During the early 1960s, there was the surf sound coming out of Southern California. Bands called Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones, and along with dozens of others, these guys - The Surfaris. They all sang about what we midwesterners could only imagine: surfing, Hot Rods, partying on the beach.
Surfing became a lifestyle, influencing fashion - pants, shirts, hairstyles, and of course the “Woodie”, a little Ford station wagon with wood grain trim on the side. At the time, the media - Life, Look, and the big rags - all wrote the “Surfers” UP! I think it also caused one of the population growths in Southern California.
It was over in ‘65 when what was called the British Invasion showed up! Even George Lucas had John Milner
(AMERICAN GRAFFITI) Say “I DON'T LIKE THAT SURFIN SHIT” about a Beach Boys Tune!
Anyhoo, me and my folks and a Judge decided I should become a Marine, so in 1963 I became a Marine along with a bunch of guys that were relatives - the O’Conner’s, out of San Diego. They were a family of 13, consisting of famous swimmers, twins - one who would later become the Mayor of San Diego. They lived near the beach and taught me how to surf. The Marines also had a beach - Del Mar - and you could check out a surfboard for the weekend.
I became a good surfer. It was cheap and fun, especially for Marines. We were hated [by a lot of residents] in Southern California at the time! The surfers we met on the beach and partied with - wine drinkers all - listened to the Surfaris’ “Wipeout” and “Surfer Joe”, who in the song would become a Marine. They didn't think much of the Beach Boys, calling them the “Fat Boys”.
Anywhoo, I loved this song/story. It was a sing-along. Oh yeah, I surfed China Beach in Danang, Vietnam in 1967, while on my in-country R+R! Ain't many can claim they surfed China Beach! Rat
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