Billy Smith

These early records, played on jukeboxes up and down the boardwalk, caught not only his ear but his intrigue as well. He never heard this kind of music on the radio back home in Marion, and he wondered why. The local record store in Marion became a favorite after-school activity for Billy. He saved and spent every dime he made from his paper route on records by R & B Doo-Wop groups such as the Cadillacs, Flamingos, and the Five Satins. Today, of course, this music is credited as the precluder to “beach music”.

Billy’s dad, a building contractor, built a miniature radio studio on top of The Dairyette, a local diner in Marion; and Billy began broadcasting his own show, “The Dairyette Show” on Sunday afternoons. Just like a scene from “Happy Days”, teens would ride by in their Chevys and hang out in the parking lot. His love for broadcasting was cemented!

In 1964, Billy left Marion for Wilmington, NC and accepted a position at WGNI. A year later he moved to Myrtle Beach and worked at WTGR (Tiger radio), where he remained for the next six years. He was thrilled when he received an offer to move to Charleston to work at WTMA. It was the largest radio station in South Carolina, and Billy had listened to it for years. Ironically, one of his fellow broadcasters at WTMA would later reemerge as a coworker in another setting…Ted Bell!

Returning to the Grand Strand in 1973, Billy has remained at Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach ever since. He went to work for Bill Norman at WNMB (yes, it’s the same building 94.9 the Surf is in today!) where he remained for the next 15 years. He has worked at Power 98, which became Mix 97.7, where his longtime friend Terri Springs was his co-host. After a 2-year stint at Cool 104.9, Billy joined 94.9 the Surf in 2002.

Billy loves his morning slot on 94.9 almost as much as he loves all the lady listeners telling him that they enjoy “waking up” with him every morning! He perhaps laughs the loudest at his comedy bits. As with all the broadcasters at the Surf, he cherishes the phone calls and emails from our servicemen all over the world. He knows how blessed he is to love his work and play the music that captured his attention and heart half a century ago.

In addition to Scott Simms at WATP in Marion who gave him his first professional opportunity, Billy credits “Clarence the Whip” as his mentor. Clarence worked in the 50’s at WYNN in Florence. An African-American broadcaster, Clarence used “hip talk” such as “hey baby” and other Ebonic expressions that Billy has incorporated into his own personal style of broadcasting. Among his favorite interviews are conversations with Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, and Billy Stewart. He’s still waiting for the one he admires and loves most of all…Smokey Robinson.

The recipient of many accolades over the years, Billy received “Beach Music DJ of the Year” award in 1981, the first year of the Beach Music Awards Show, which set the stage for the Cammy’s (now CBMA). He was selected for this honor again as “FM DJ of the Year” in 2005 by the CBMA. He was inducted into the prestigious SC R&B/Beach Music Hall of Fame by Governor Jim Hodges in 2001. Seems he’s not only a legend in his own mind after all.

In his spare time, Billy enjoys meeting his friends for their “Music Club” where they scour the satellite jukebox for old, obscure music. He also enjoys reading and going to movies. He considers life on the Intracoastal Waterway at North Myrtle Beach as “Paradise” and has little desire to travel elsewhere. He and Kay soak in the sunset with their new puppy, Bo Diddley, and watch the boats go by, cherishing each day.

“Hello Stranger” by Barbara Lewis remains his all-time favorite beach music song.