Monday, June 13, 2011

International Surf Music Month

June is International Surf Music Month -- a perfect time to think of fun in the sun, sand and surf. And to think of the really fun rock and pop music from Southern California that's come to be known as "surf music."

There are two major types of surf music: rock instrumentals such as Wipeout, Pipeline or the Hawaii Five-O theme, and pop rock vocals like Surfin' Safari. Bands like the Tornadoes, the Chantays, the Ventures, the Surfaris, the Beach Boys, and artists like Dick Dale and Jan and Dean have left us the wonderful summer surf music.

A couple of books in our collection that touch on surf music include Timothy White's A Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience, along with Bob Greene's When We Get to Surf City: A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams (as Bob Greene tours the State Fair circuit with Jan and Dean). There are also many websites devoted to surf music and lots of YouTube videos to get you in the summer surfin' mood.

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