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Note: I have included an interview with John Blair, who played a crucial role in completing this film, despite the passage of 30 years and the untimely death of the person who started it.
Vision Films recently released their tribute to surf culture, Sound of the Surf. If
you're a fan of surf instrumental music and curious about its origins, evolution,
and resurgence, this documentary is a treasure trove of information. It's a
testament to the genre's rich history and the characters who shaped it,
preserving their legacy for generations to come.
I would paraphrase that as the life and death of surf, and how
it has continually renewed itself from the first to the third wave and into the
present day. It's a story of resilience and adaptability, inspiring a whole new
generation of bands and listeners.
The genre is often cited as both simplistic and powerful. Over
the years, many subgenres have formed, making the genre more complex and
eclectic. Many of the cornerstones have remained, like having songs generally
run in the 2-minute-plus range and providing colorful artwork for recordings
ranging from 7” 45s to full-length albums.
A series of events led to the creation of this music and contributed to
the culture of surfers. Before surfers claimed the music as their own, they
listened to jazz because it was complementary in terms of expression, much like
riding the waves.
The Rendezvous Ballroom and The Lighthouse were key venues at
the beginning. Dick Dale, considered the father of surf, was eventually fired
from the ballroom because someone deemed it "evil devil music." Now,
how silly is that? Yet, many people bought into it. That, of course, did not
stop the tidal wave of interest that was to happen. Soon, there would be
hundreds of surf instrumental bands all over the U.S., and it would spread
worldwide.
At least that is how it all started with the King of Surf, Dick
Dale. His influence is undeniable.
The genre remains male-dominated to this day; however, when it
first began, there were two central female characters, Kathy Kohner and Kathy
Marshall. Kathy Kohner (Gidget, which stands for girl midget) decided
that she wanted to write about her experiences, and her father took all the
notes, wrote the book, and it was later adapted into a film in 1959. That
propelled everything else to new heights, prompting an increase in movies and
music about surfing. Kathy Marshall was good enough to play on stage with Dale
and join a band. Dale anointed her “The Queen of Surf.” There is more to the
story, of course, but you will have to watch the film.
Eddie Bertrand (of the Bel-Airs and Eddie and the Showmen) asked
Fender to build a cabinet with two speakers for a bigger sound. And they did,
but wanted it hushed because they were not producing them. Then, within a month
or so, it became the standard, and Fender reaped the benefits.
John Blair formed Jon and the Nightriders in 1979 and released Surf Beat '80. This is what
ignited the second wave to save the genre from falling into obscurity. It never
truly went away; however, everything covered in the film was part of the
music's growth and reach.
John had a significant hand in this documentary and handled all
the narration for the film. He had the perfect demeanor and voice to pull it
off.
When the 1990s rolled around, it was dubbed the “third wave.” At
this time, some bands decided to mix punk with surf, creating an entirely new
sound. So now surf morphed into something else entirely, spurring on a whole
new generation of bands and listeners.
So that is the short version of what you will see and hear in
this excellent documentary. It will create awareness and provide many people
with a valuable history lesson on surf instrumental music. There is always
something else to learn other than what you already know, so make sure you
check this film out!
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf
Music and Art Founder
July 7, 2025
