Swingin' Medallions

The Swingin' Medallions(South Carolina Shag and Beach Band) have been based out of the Greenwood South Carolina area, since the early 1960's. Their musical roots came from listening to the early rhythm and blues acts. After a few years of touring colleges from the Carolinas to the Louisiana Bayou, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith's Studio in Charlotte North Carolina, to record "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)". The song became a million seller in 1966, and has been a party classic for college students for decades. "She Drives Me Out Of My Mind" and "Hey, Hey, Baby" were top 40 hits in 1966 and 1967, but "Double Shot" remains the signature song of the Swingin' Medallions.

The members of the Swingin' Medallions have changed over the past thirty years, with John McElrath being the leader and only member to be performing today. The personnel of the band has always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The high energy party style stage performance of the first Medallions has been passed down to the band that performs today. The present Medallions stage show has coined them the name "The Party Band of the South."

Many of the Medallions attended and graduated from Lander University in Greenwood, SC while performing in the south east. The University of Georgia was also the home of some of the band members.

Lewis Grizzard wrote in a 1993 article that, "Even today, when I hear the Swingin' Medallions sing "Double Shot of My Baby's Love, " it makes me want to stand outside in the hot sun with a milkshake cup full of beer in one hand and a slightly-drenched nineteen-year-old coed in the other."

Swingin' Medallions Band from Greenwood, South Carolina is a high energy Shag band that plays Beach, Rock & Roll, Oldies and other types of music. This band is perfect for Festivals, Fraternity Parties, Sorority Parties, Fundraisers, Wedding Receptions and other events. for booking Swingin' Medallions, call Music Garden today at 800-689-BAND(2263) or email us by clicking on the more information tab on this page.

Tradition is defined as “The handing down of a belief, legend, or custom from generation to generation”. The Swingin’ Medallions, a 56-year Southern tradition, are a living definition of the word. This high-energy party band is well known for their live beach, frat rock, R&B, or shagging' music. How does a band endure the generations? The group’s signature high-energy style delights audiences of all ages. Their act, as well as their music, is indeed timeless. The band was founded in 1962 by John McElrath and now includes his sons, Shawn and Shane. Jimmy Perkins, an original member of the group has been back traveling fulltime with the band since July 2011! Featuring an ever-popular horn section, the group effectively blends the sounds and music of yesterday and today.The variety and personnel that this dance band offers always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The Swingin' Medallions' style and stage performance that the band performs today has been passed down from the first Swingin' Medallions. The band was made famous by its 1.5 million selling hit album, “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love”, in 1966. It remains the signature song of the band. The song, in fact, continues to demonstrate its timeless quality on radio, television and in motion pictures. “Double Shot” was followed with another hit, “She Drives Me Out of My Mind”, in 1967. In 1969, they released yet another hit, “Hey, Hey Baby”, the song featured at their 2004 Gator Bowl Half-Time Show performance. The Swingin' Medallions band released countless other singles through Capitol and Smash Records and continues recording new music today, including their latest tune, “Large Time”, which was released in September 2011.In September 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band invited the Medallions on stage at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville SC to join in for a rendition of "Double Shot". This was definitely an historic moment and one of the highlights of the show. This was quite an honor for the Medallions!! Bruce has even labeled “Double Shot” as “The greatest fraternity rock song of all time”. In early 2008, they were invited by the United States Ambassador to Canada to perform in Ottawa, Canada for a July 4th Celebration. In 2007, they were chosen to headline the Inaugural Party for the Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford. Also in 2007, they performed for the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue’s Inaugural Ball. In 2003, they joined forces with Coors Brewing Company, Sterling Marlin and hundreds of fans for a Cruise of the Caribbean.The cast of the hit television series “Aly McBeal” sang along with the original recording in a 1998 episode. Bruce Willis sang the song in an episode of “Moonlighting”. In 1999, it was again featured in the NBC miniseries, “The 60’s”. It was heard on the big screen in the movie, “Sorority Boys” and most recently the lead character in the 2017 movie, “The Big Sick”, wore a Swingin’ Medallion T-Shirt in many scenes! Lewis Grizzard (Southern humorist and writer) labeled the Medallions as “THE PARTY BAND OF THE SOUTH”, a moniker that has become forever synonymous with the Medallion name. Grizzard wrote in a nationally syndicated column, “Even today, when I hear “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love”, it makes me want to stand outside in the hot sun with a milkshake cup full of beer in one hand and a slightly drenched coed in the other”. Chicago Tribune nationally syndicated columnist Bob Greene wrote an article entitled The Swingin’ Medallion View of U.S. History. He summed up America’s love affair with “Double Shot” with his discovery of the song being played and sold in the gift shop of the Smithsonian Institute. When inquiring as to why it was available in the nation’s foremost repository of history, the clerk replied, “Because it’s as much a part of our history as anything else we sell”.The book, “Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music”, was officially released October 6, 2006 at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia. It is a comprehensive history of the Southeastern Music Scene of the 1960’s. It is 552 pages long with over 800 images and weighs over 10 pounds! This book features the story of the Swingin’ Medallions!After a few years of touring colleges from both North and South Carolina to the Louisiana Bayou, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith's Studio in Charlotte North Carolina, to record "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)". The song became a million seller in 1966, and has been a party classic for college students for decades. "She Drives Me Out Of My Mind" and "Hey, Hey, Baby" were top 40 hits in 1966 and 1967, but "Double Shot" remains the signature song of the band.