By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
HULL – Once music visionary Bill Spence realized the age of big bands was fading out and rock ‘n’ roll was here to stay, he wanted to create a safe space for young teens to hang out and still be able to dance without worrying about causing scuff marks on varnished floors. They needed somewhere to go and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) dances typically turned up their noses to this new music frenzy.
A pioneer music promoter
Spence, who was instrumental in adapting to Boston’s changing music scene in the 1960s, opened the Surf Ballroom on Nantasket Beach during the 1950s big band dancing era. He also had two other locations, Hyannis on Cape Cod and Salisbury on the North Shore, but the one on Nantasket did not have that old ballroom feel. Having once said “Lips that touch liquor will never play here,” Spence’s goal, according to the Music Museum of New England, was to provide a wholesome and alcohol-free venue for Boston area-youth.
Early on, he brought in acts such as The Doors, The Beach Boys, The Rascals, The Animals, and Sonny and Cher. Disc jockeys like Arnie “Woo Woo” Ginsburg would come and emcee shows. In 1965, Spence contracted The Rolling Stones to the United States and sent The Surf’s house band, The Rockin’ Ramrods, off with the Stones for their North America tour. Back home, bands like The Mods, The Pilgrims and The Tidal Waves worked at The Surf and opened for acts like The Doors.
Despite the nation’s segregation woes at the time and eventually losing his financial shirt, Spence ran the first major integrated concert in the Deep South and The Surf supported local African American acts, including the G-Clefs and Tuneweavers. For him, it was not about the money but the principles of equality to which Spence often cited his father’s pithy statement: “You are not one bit better than anyone else, nor one bit worse.”
The Doors played The Surf Ballroom at Nantasket Beach in October 1967, just months after the release of their self-titled debut album.
Musicians and fans reminisce
Len Cirelli recalled one significant moment in time. “I remember the night of 10/12/67 very well. I was playing keyboard for The Rockin’ Ramrods. Our manager owned three Surf Clubs in Massachusetts and The Ramrods were fortunate to open for many famous acts. We were the house band at The Surf Ballroom and that night we were the only other act on the bill. Mysterious and cool, The Doors, with their moody lead singer, Jim Morrison, were growing in popularity, so that night The Surf was packed to the rafters with rocking teenagers. I’m not sure what the ballroom’s capacity was, but I bet there were five hundred kids there just waiting for those low, haunting chords to cast their spell over us all. You could feel the electricity and excitement in the room. But The Doors were special.”
Others shared their memories on Facebook. Jon Milkowski wrote, “I saw Aerosmith there before they got huge!! A ‘10’ as I remember, lol.” Kathy Richen remembered it as a “great club for teens.”
Owner fondly remembered
The Surf changed to Uncle Sam’s in the mid-70s where hard rock, punk and new wave artists like Aerosmith, Iggy Pop and the Ramones came to perform. It closed in 1984. Bill Spence passed away in 2015 at the age of 85. Aside from owning The Surf, he had been the president of Massachusetts Bay Lines, a ferryboat company he founded for and was an elected member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving constituents on the South Shore of Boston from 1969-1975.
Facebook tributes included statements from people like Bob Stabins who wrote, “He made my young years better.” Norman A. Smith added, “My first ‘boss’ in the music biz! Great man!”
By all accounts, it is safe to say Bill Spence more than achieved his goal of providing a place where teens could safely have fun dancing and watching their favorite rockers perform.
RELATED CONTENT:
Paradise Rock Club is one of Boston’s most storied music venues – Fifty Plus Advocate
Boston’s legendary rock club ‘The Rat’ is still remembered fondly
