THE ATLANTIC BEACH COLLECTION: Atlantic Beach stretches between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. It was once known as SCs only black-friendly beach.

Atlantic Beach was founded in 1930 by a small group of black business people and professionals and became known as, “The Black Pearl”.

Popular black musicians who were booked along the Grand Strand and played for white audiences weren’t allowed to stay in Grand Strand hotels; Atlantic Beach became a popular safe-haven. James Brown, Bo Diddley, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, The Drifters, Martha and the Vandellas, The Tams, Bo Diddley, and Otis Redding all left their imprints in the sands of Atlantic Beach.

📸 credit: Town Of Atlantic Beach, S.C.