The Catalinas
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The Catalinas are an American beach music band from the late 1950s.
Since the Catalinas formed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late 1957, over 60 accomplished guitarists, keyboardists, trumpet players, drummers, bass players & singers have been a part of the band. Most have come from communities along the Interstate 77 corridor from Statesville to Charlotte.
Gary Barker, a Statesville resident who plays guitar and sings, is the current owner of the band. He started with the band in 1965, and has been the steadying influence for the last thirty years. In his own words, "I just did not get it into my head that I was getting paid to do something I love."
Barker attributes the band’s long success to the ongoing popularity of beach music and the great tunes that the band has composed and recorded over the years. Some of their classics include, "You Haven't The Right," "Facts Of Love," "Dancin'-Romancin'," "Hey Little Girl," and their signature song "Summertime’s Calling Me" from 1975.
The band has had its down moments including the death of lead vocalist, Tommy Black in a plane crash in 1968 and the death of band member Ronnie Gittens on October 28, 2005. Gary Barker has been the band’s glue, keeping it going even when rock & roll in the late '60s & early '70s threatened to submerge the Catalinas and beach music. The Catalinas had little choice but to play their share of Crosby, Still & Nash, Grand Funk Railroad, etc. "You either played it or you didn’t get any work," said Gary Barker.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT...
- Larry, If I ever need a D.J. Guess what,You The Man!!! Thanx: Corndog 6/22/07
- Yes! it's Friday and I'm up here jammin' in Cleveland, OH. How about some Soul Generation - Body & Soul (That's the Way It's Got to Be) Ya'll remember that one? Have a great weekend! Carlos J. 6/22/07
- How about Earth, Wind and Fire? Angie G. 6/6/07
- Hooray for Friday!! Mary A. 6/1/07
- This group (The Four Tops) is great. Thanks VM Jimmy J. - 5/25/07
- Thanks for a Friday of Dusty Springfield, The Look of Love. Erica from Red Lobster, thanks for the look. - F.L. 4/5/07
- I love this site! Any chance I could hear "Coldest Days Of My Life" by the Chi-Lites? - 4/4/07
- I would love to hear "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous
Brothers or "Fats" Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" or
"Blueberry Hill." Thanks, Patrick - 3/30/07
- Hey Larry! You are amazing! I have my whole office dancing to these! Just great! Can you do a BeeGees for my boss and slip in Build Me Up Buttercup? I sing it anyway at work, may as well have the music to go along with it (the more to torture my co-workers with! Looking forward to all the Fridays-with-Larry! :) Scotty - 3/30/07
- Oh, my goodness, you found "Black Pearl." I nearly fainted this am, when I opened the site. Thank you sooooo much. Blessings P.W. Smith - 3/30/07
- Please add "Black Pearl" by The Checkmates...not sure what year, but thinking mid 60's. Thanks sooooooo much.
P. Smith - 3/23/07
- This is a great website. My mom always listened to the "Oldies" station here, and I wanted to be just like my Mom, so I started listening to it and I loved it, and this website has some of my favorites. M. Pierce - 3/22/07
- Hey, I love the t-shirt. I have had it on
since I got home from Arizona. You did a
good job. That was a great song last Friday (Wang Dang Doodle)
- didn't know it but who ever requested it is someone I
would like to hang with. And then today we had
The Zombies....that took me back to 8th grade and one of
my first boy/girl parties. They were always held in
someone's basement and the lights would go off by 9:00.
That song always seem to bring on lots of smooching. I will
not be naming names.... ;)
Thanks again,
Betsy
- This is awesome!!! Thanks for the great
site and fabulous music!! WooHoo!! Jen B. - 2/18/07
- I could not have picked a better artist. Thanks, Pat M.
- Thank you Larry - You have made my day! Betsy K.
- Mr. Larry, I really enjoyed Roy Head-Hey Hey. YF
Jim J. - 2/5/07
- This always gets my Friday off to a great start! Love it!
Debbie - 1/26/07
- Every once in a while my mornings are worth rising for, this has been one of them with Tina Turner.
Thanks Bill S. - 1/19/07
- Keep up the good work. JJ - 1/19/07
- Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2007! I remember at this time in 1969 we were really gettng into Abbey Road! But oh, how I love the sweet soul music of the 60's and 70's as well. Thanks for your work in keeping this music alive. And keep on sending it, Brother! Dennis M. - 12/29/06
- Moonchild Diva in Motown - found the site by looking for Billy Stewart! I think you answered my question...who played bass on Billy's recordings? SO THANK YOU for clearing up the mystery! - 12/11/06
- Billy Stewart , alright, one of my favorites. Also, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, Willy Tee....
Your friend, Dirk H.
- Thanks for Billy Stewart Larry - You have made
my day! Betsy K. - 12/8/07
- I look forward to Friday's email. This is great.
Linda L. - 12/8/07
- Wow! From your personal E-Mail account. I forward "Its Friday in Athens!!!" on to my friends often. The folks here at work are trying to figure me out. Their 56 year old C.E.O. sits in his office every Friday morning booming out R&B. Though it works for me, its not the type of behavior they expect from someone in my position. BLUES BANKER!
T. Turgeon -
- Thanks for Joe T. Luv'd it! Roy Head and the Traits?
Hope you had a good Turkey Day.
T. Turgeon - 11/27/07
- I keep waiting for Jackie Wilson and Billy Stewart....I have
decided that like me, you have an older brother or sister
who had you listening to this music as a kid.
Hope all is well your way.
Betsy K. - 11/25/06
- How about a little Joe Tex? T. Turgeon
- Thanks, "I LOVE IT! Makes my day! M.N. - 9/29/06
- WOW WOW WOW AN OUTSTANDING REVIEW OF THE real STYLE OF MUSIC - Atlanta Cooking - 9/23/06
- In my time, this is the most fascinating music I have ever heard. **86 - 8/17/06
- Keep up the great and extremely important work. We met I believe at Michael Guthrie's house a few weeks ago at the HVARII Reunion. I am a great lover of our R&B and it's great to see someone who truly cares about it. Ole!
T. Turgeon - 8/2/06
- Again, the "It's Friday" series is great - I love it
every week and have sent it on to so many folks -
thanks again. Betsy K.
- Aretha is my personal favorite so far! Peggy M.
- LOVE THIS...I NEED SOMETHNG TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY !!!! C. Lady - 6/3/07
- Great! Perfect! Dance Music I Love It!!! Laine L.
- I think you missed your calling as a DJ! Nicki S.
- Keep 'em coming!! I really enjoy listening to "my kind of music". Thank you. Mary M.
- I like getting your email every Friday, keep it coming!
Carlas A.
- DON'T FORGET THE 'QUEEN OF SOUL'........ ARETHA!!!!! YOUR MAKING MY FRIDAYS. RONK
- MY FRIENDS REALLY LIKE FRIDAY IN ATHENS! ONE IS SENDING EVERYONE AT THE COURTHOUSE AN EMAIL. Ron H.
- THANKS SO MUCH EACH WEEK! Nancy W.
- This makes me smile! Ray C.
- Great job, keep up the good work. Terry T.
- I SAVE UNTIL FRI AFTERNOON, BY 5:00 P.M. I'M REVVVVED!!! RONK - 5/19/06
- Thanks for this humanitarian service to get us crunk for district wide planning. Wilson Pickett reminds us to put a “spotlight on Otis Redding y’all”. Yeah,yeah, oh yeah. Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-Faaa! Karl S.
- Thanks. What a pleasant surprise to get to work and open this e-mail- glad I started with yours first. Melanie B.
- Thanks for the Friday emails Larry!! I really enjoy them.
Kim S.
- Thanks for the sound of good music. I really do love my oldies but goodies. E. Luke - 5/19/06
- Thanks!!! This is great! Jane B.
- Great site! How about some Sam Cooke??? - 5/19/06
- Thanks for the music! Steve P.
- I love this! Thanks. Dianne M.
- I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your
Friday emails. Thanks for including me! Betsy K.
- I appreciate the link – good stuff! Jon W.
- I LIKE IT!!!!!! Thanks and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Barbara S.
- THIS IS GREAT!!!!!! Susan R.
- So in your spare time you try to cheer up everyone? Thanks, Lori R.
- I love these songs. Thanks. Terri S.
- Awesome……Thanks for doing this, we all look forward to it every week. I’ve sent it to everyone I know! Debi D.
- I needed this today! Thanks. Susan S.
Good selection for this fabulous Friday!!!!!
- Thanks for the Music this morning. I think I could listen to this all day, if people didn't think I was crazy for MOVING in my chair. Have a great weekend. Joyce G.
- This is awesome! Thanks, Debi D.
