Wilbert Harrison - Don't Drop It

Although he was born and buried in Charlotte, NC, the city Wilbert will always be identified with is Kansas City as he took the song with that city's name in the title to #1 on the pop charts in April of 1959.
Recorded at about the same time, "Don't Drop It" never charted, but it became one of the all-time great "shag" hits, and holds up well to this day.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wilbert Harrison
• Rock
• Pop
• R&B
• Carolina Beach Music
• Shag
• Don't Drop It

[wynonie]

WGSP in Charlotte was the first all beach music station several years before WRDX. Wilbert was a guest on my show on WGIV in Charlotte in 1985. We discussed his career and played nearly all of his records starting with GIN & COCONUT MILK. As far as I know, he will ALWAYS be a Charlottean. Forget Kansas City. You`re right, he was a super person.I used to tease him and tell him Herman Lubinsky(owner of Savoy Records) says you owe him money. He`d cringe when I said that.

[Nocaro]

@wynonie LOL, thanks for the great note and story about Wilbert. I wish I had met the man before he passed away.

[007shagman]

it was a blessing to be able to meet him.very polite man.rest in peace my friend job well done. jim robinson greensboro n.c.

[Nocaro]

@007shagman Thanks for the note, Jim...I wish I could have met him as well...Lanny (Nocaro on YouTube), Raleigh, NC.

[007shagman]

back when charlotte had a beach music station it would play beach music just far enough to reach greensboro and high point.i tuned in and they said that wilbert harrison was in the nursing home in spencer n.c. just south of lexington n.c. on i 85. the djs said anyone wanting to visit or send flowers or cards to do so.so me and my mom went there to see him.absolutly wonderful man it was such a blessing to meet him face to face and to be able to talk to him.best i can remember he died a week later

[Nocaro]

@007shagman Actually, the station you are probably thinking about was WRDX out of Salisbury, NC (one of my former employers). It was the first radio station in the U.S. that specialized strictly on what you and I know as "beach music". They had a heckuva signal that reached all the way into E. Tennessee and S.W. Virginia, and a stable of now legendary dj's....Lanny (Nocaro)

[jpoe141]

met wilbert in the mid 70s in a bar in newark nj, he and i had a beer and he sang kansas city a few times and he joked around with a light bulb that would light when he put in on peoples heads, today his son wibert harrison jr came in my record store looking for a 45 record of kansas city on fury label, i had one, we listened to it and he rememberd his dad with storys, it was a pleasure meeting him as well as his dad, days like this make me glad i kept my record store open.....

[PatrickWall12]

This and the Jerry Lee Lewis version are the best versions.

[ekocentric]

At :31 he looks like lead singer Morris Day with the Times.

[007shagman]

hats off lanny you da man.

[007shagman]

youre welcome nocaro.he would have blessed youre heart all 5'2" of him.man still had high spirits of himself.its up to us to keep the oldies alive and the beach music too SHAG ON.