How beach music taught Southerners to 'dance sexy'

A type of music known as beach music has been baked into the culture of the Carolina coast for generations, along with a specific type of dancing that goes with it: shag. But how did these smooth, soulful sounds become tied to the sandy shores of North and South Carolina? The answer is a little more complicated and transgressive than you might expect.This episode originally published on July 25, 2024.Featuring:John Hook, radio DJ and beach music historianCurtis Platt, founder of Softtoe Entertainment & Dance Production and the annual Beach Urban Dance ClassicLinks:You can find a transcript of the episode here.The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.