Throughout the history of South Carolina, music has evolved from the Psalms sang by early Huguenots to today's popular music scene with internationally known groups such as Hootie and the Blowfish. In between, South Carolina has produced and nurtured many styles of music including classical, spiritual, rock, country, and bluegrass.
Back in 1762, when planters were firmly established as the upper-crust of society, the St. Cecila Society was first formed in Charleston. It was named for St Cecilia, the patron saint of music. The St. Cecilia Society began as the first musical society in North America, and sponsored the first symphony orchestra in Charleston. Eventually, it became primarily a social organization known for the elite balls and debutantes still held today.
Other historical notes include the adoption of the two official state songs. South Carolina adopted the first, Carolina, Carolina, in 1911. Written by the poet Henry Timrod, it was set to music by Anne Custis Burgess. South Carolina On My Mind, created and sung by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge, was adopted in 1984 as an additional state song.
In 2001, the state assembly adopted "Beach Music" as the official state popular music. This type of music is based on rhythm and blues, and is synonymous with the shag, a type of swing dance named as the official state dance. These styles became popular in the 1940's, especially in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and other beach areas.
Perhaps the most influential official musical forms are the state opera, Porgy and Bess, and the state music, adopted in 1999, known simply as "The Spiritual." Spiritual music originated along the coastal areas during the slave era. Based on the Bible, songs passed down through families orally. This type of music has been described as outbursts or shouts of religious fervor, and in churches often utilizes "talk-back" styles, where the congregation answers the leader. Still sung today, these songs are widely recognized nationwide. Popular tunes include He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, This Little Light of Mine, Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
Music in the Lowcountry
The music scene of South Carolina today is vast and varied. Because folk traditions and music have long been a part of the history and culture here, it should come as no surprise that bluegrass, folk, and country music are alive and well on the cultural scene. Bands such as Yeehaw Junction and Blue Plantation regularly make the local music scene, as well as local rock, swing, and blues bands. The South Carolina State Bluegrass festival is held in Myrtle Beach each fall, and the Bluegrass on the Waccamaw is held in May in Conway.
Classical music thrives in the lowcountry, too. Charleston in particular offers a number of organizations which present full musical seasons. The American Guild of Organists, The Chamber Music Society of Charleston, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Southcoast Symphony, the Southern Harmony Chorus, and others offer concerts and performances throughout the year. The Citadel military college also makes a mark on the musical scene with the Citadel Cadet Chorale, the Citadel Gospel Choir, and the Citadel Pipes and Drums.
Music festivals liven things up throughout the year, especially in the greater Myrtle Beach and Charleston areas. The best known is the Spoleto Festival, held in Charleston each year. Charleston has long been a cultural center of the South, and the Spoleto Festival solidifies this reputation. Musicians and vocalists from around the world perform in opera, musical theater, classical music, and other genres. Piccolo Spoleto, which showcases regional musicians, offers even more.
Charleston boasts plenty of local bands and places to hear live music. The city's music venues include places with such catchy names as The Kickin' Chicken, The Music Farm, and Big Deck Daddy's. Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and Beaufort have their own resident big band, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and beach music bands which perform at local venues on nearly any day of the week. Musical entertainment can also be seen at places like the Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach, the Alabama Theatre, which offers every type of music, Legends in Concert, and the House of Blues.
Upcountry Music
The upcountry and mountain areas are home to the bluegrass and folk music genres. The local university scene in the Clemson, Greenville, and Spartanburg areas contributes to the development and popularity of rock music as well as classical music. Florence, Greenville, and Columbia are home to their own symphony orchestras, as well as chorale societies, youth choirs, and more.
Spartanburg has been a solid center of music in the area for more than a century. For instance, the Spartanburg Music Association formed in 1885. Several years later, Dr. R.H. Peters, a professional musician from England, became the first director of the Converse College Music Department. He began a series of music festivals destined to put Spartanburg on the map. Public interest in music led to the founding of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which today performs throughout the year.
Florence is home to the Southeastern Bluegrass Association, which holds concerts monthly at the Lynches River County Park, near Florence. For old fashioned folk music, there are several choices in Columbia, Spartanburg, and Greenville. Blends of bluegrass, folk, Irish pop, shape-note, acoustic, and Gullah are intertwined through local folk bands.
If you're upstate and want to hear rock'n roll, Columbia is the place to be. Columbia is home to many bands ranging from southern rock and hard rock to punk, classic, and R&B. Hootie and the Blowfish are probably the most famous rock band located in the Columbia area, regularly touring both South Carolina and nationwide.
South Carolina's varied musical scene includes lowcountry spirituals and famous beach music, plus upcountry folk and bluegrass. Visitors can enjoy world-class symphonies, jam at the local rock'n roll scene, or soak up the theater-style performances near the beach areas. South Carolina has the sounds for any music lover's ears.
