Passages

Charlie Webber

( - 1/16/03, Greenwood, SC)

Back row left to right: Charlie Webber - trumpet, vocals; Steve Caldwell - saxophone, vocals; Jimmy Perkins, saxophone, bass guitar, vocals; John McElrath - keyboards, vocals; Carroll Bledsoe - trumpet, vocals; Jim Doares - guitar, vocals. Front row: Brent Fortson - saxophone, flute, vocals & Joe Morris - drums, vocals.

Swingin' Medallions' founding member turned SLED agent Charlie Webber dies of cancer at age 58 GREENWOOD, SC (AP) - Charlie Webber, who played saxophone for the Swingin' Medallions at the time of the band's 1966 hit "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)," has died. He was 58. Webber died of cancer at his Greenwood home Friday, Jan. 17, 2003. An original member of the Swingin' Medallions, Webber left the group in 1969 for a career in law enforcement. He worked for a sheriff's office before he joined the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in 1978. Webber was a senior agent with SLED's Fugitive Task Force when he received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, in November, 2002. John McElrath, who has been with the Swingin' Medallions since the early '60s, said the band was thinking about Webber when they played at Gov. Mark Sanford's inauguration barbecue Wednesday night. "I had talked with his wife, Vicki, that morning and knew he wasn't doing too well," McElrath said. **************** Charlie Webber, trumpet player (the AP erroneously said he played sax) and original member of The Swingin' Medallions passed away Jan 17th, 2003, from cancer at his home in Greenwood, SC. He was 58. Charlie was an integral part of the band's reputation as a "party band" and was their resident "cut-up". He is the second member of the group, who recorded "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love), to pass away recently. Steve Caldwell, saxophone player, passed away 11 days short of one year prior to Webber's death. Webber was also a co-founder of the band "Pieces of Eight" who recorded "Lonely Drifter", another beach music classic hit. **************** Charles D. Webber, 58, of 715 W. Deadfall Road, husband of Victoria Capps Webber, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 at his home. Born in Kingstree, he was a son of Louise Easler Webber and the late Carlisle L. Webber. A resident of Greenwood since 1950, he graduated from Greenwood High School and Lander College and attended Clemson College. He was employed by The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and was an original member of the Swingin' Medallions. In November 2002, he received the Order of the Palmetto. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association. Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Greenwood; a son, Charles Carlisle Webber and a daughter, Amanda Kathryn Webber, both of the home; two brothers, James C. Webber of Heathsville, Va., and Thomas Michael Webber of Anderson. Services are 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Main Street United Methodist Church. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. A private family burial is in Oakbrook Memorial Park. Pallbearers are James William Webber, Robert Edward Webber, William “Bubba” Easler, William David Webber, Marty Easler and Chuck Easler. Visitation is 5-8 Jan. 18, 2003, at Blyth Funeral Home. The family is at the home. Memorials may be made to the Lander Foundation for the Criminal Justice Program. 320 Stanley Ave., Greenwood, SC 29649. Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.

This page designed by Monte Matthews