Local woman a fixture on folly’s live music circuit
Certain things will always be in rich abundance on Folly Beach: beautiful sunsets, smiling faces, and of course, live music. One such smiling face that can usually be found within close proximity to live music is Carole Gordon.
When I play the Sand Dollar with Headrush (shameless plug alert), Mrs. Carole rarely misses a show and is usually there before I am, staying until the last song is over. And where as many of the younger patrons may be stumbling through the last set, Mrs. Carole can hang with the best of them, dancing all night and shining her light on everyone she meets.
I recently sat down with her at the Drop-In Deli to get some tips on how I can be like her when I grow up.
Miranda Jordan: Where are you from, and how did you find your way to Folly Beach?
Mrs. Carole: I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up there close to Little Italy. I have so many fond memories of my childhood there, like riding the streetcars and waving to the retuning soldiers on Pratt Street during the Korean War. I met my very best friend, JoAnne when I was 10, and she taught me how to jitterbug. We are still friends to this day!
I met my husband Jim, who was in the Navy, when I was 18, and we got married after dating for about two weeks (although we’d known each other for a whole month and a half). When he returned from overseas, we moved to Ohio and had our first child, Victoria, and then a son named Michael.
A decade later we had two more sons, Johnny and Joseph. My daughter Victoria moved to James Island in 1989, right before Hugo hit. My husband and I followed a year later. Although we did move back to Ohio briefly, we came back here to settle. We were married for 41 years, and he passed in 2005. I’m lucky to have all my children, my 7 grandchildren (including 10 –year-old Jimmy) and my great-granddaughter, 9-year-old Avery, living close by.
MJ: What is your favorite thing about the island?
Mrs. Carole: The people! The entertainment is so outstanding, it takes my breath away. We also have a very beautiful view down here on the ocean.
MJ: You are a big supporter of the local music scene. Who are the must-see acts, (aside from Headrush, wink wink), that any visitor needs to go see?
Mrs. Carole: You can go see The Folly Beach Bluegrass Society play on Thursday nights at the Grill, and the Sand Dollar reliably has great music on the weekends. They always have good acts at Planet Follywood, too!
MJ: What is one thing your neighbors would be surprised to learn about you?
Mrs. Carole: When I was a teenager, my dream was to go into the Army and become a nurse. Two of my good friends and I were determined to enlist, and got as far as the recruiter’s office. When we found out we couldn’t go to basic training and stay together, we changed our minds.
MJ: You can out-dance and out-last most twenty-somethings. What is the secret to staying young?
Mrs. Carole: The secret to staying young for me is getting out, talking to younger people and meeting all kinds of different people. And of course: don’t be afraid of the dance floor! Just get out there and do it!
Miranda Jordan is a guidance counselor, musician, and freelance writer. To reach her, you can email her at mirandaalicejordan@gmail.com.
