The Swingin' Medallions were formed in 1962 as The Medallions in Greenwood,
South Carolina by John McElrath and Joe Morris. Starting life as a group of
friends who enjoyed playing R&B together, they began their career performing at
local clubs and fraternity parties. Their breakthrough came with the addition of
key members such as Carroll Bledsoe and Gary "Cubby" Culbertson, leading to
regular residencies in Panama City and Birmingham. In 1965, they adopted the
name Swingin' Medallions to avoid confusion with a Chicago band of the same
name. That year, they released their first s...