Biography
A horn-driven ensemble known for its party-centric beach-style rock approach, the Swingin' Medallions achieved their lasting recognition through the 1966 single "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)," which reached number 17 on the charts and became a enduring frat-rock favorite while establishing the group as a regional institution across the South. John McElrath launched the band in 1962; although its roster has shifted repeatedly across more than six decades of activity, McElrath's sons have guided the ensemble into the present era.
Originally formed in Greenwood, South Carolina, the musicians first appeared in 1962 under the name the Medallions and took on the Swingin' Medallions identity three years later. The 1965 lineup featured John McElrath on keyboards, Jim Doares on guitar, Carroll Bledsoe and Charles Webber on trumpet, Brent Forston handling sax and flute, Steven Caldwell on sax, James Perkins on bass, and Joe Morris on drums. Their debut release, "I Wanna Be Your Guy," came out that year on Smash Records. Issued the following year, "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" drove the accompanying album to number 88 on the Billboard 200. Later singles proved less successful: "She Drives Me Out of My Mind" peaked at number 71 in 1966, while "Hey Baby" did not chart. Southern audiences nonetheless sustained the band's popularity, enabling them to endure repeated personnel shifts. During a wave of reunion performances in the 2000s, the Swingin' Medallions shared a stage with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and joined forces on a version of "Double Shot." Following John McElrath's passing in 2018, Shawn and Shane McElrath assumed leadership, with original drummer Joe Morris occasionally appearing as a guest.
Originally formed in Greenwood, South Carolina, the musicians first appeared in 1962 under the name the Medallions and took on the Swingin' Medallions identity three years later. The 1965 lineup featured John McElrath on keyboards, Jim Doares on guitar, Carroll Bledsoe and Charles Webber on trumpet, Brent Forston handling sax and flute, Steven Caldwell on sax, James Perkins on bass, and Joe Morris on drums. Their debut release, "I Wanna Be Your Guy," came out that year on Smash Records. Issued the following year, "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" drove the accompanying album to number 88 on the Billboard 200. Later singles proved less successful: "She Drives Me Out of My Mind" peaked at number 71 in 1966, while "Hey Baby" did not chart. Southern audiences nonetheless sustained the band's popularity, enabling them to endure repeated personnel shifts. During a wave of reunion performances in the 2000s, the Swingin' Medallions shared a stage with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and joined forces on a version of "Double Shot." Following John McElrath's passing in 2018, Shawn and Shane McElrath assumed leadership, with original drummer Joe Morris occasionally appearing as a guest.
Albums