By John Foley Eastern North Carolina Living,

9 hours ago

One could say a white attorney and a black physician in the late 1940’s were the catalyst for the 15th Annual Ocean City Jazz Festival being held the July 4 weekend in Historic Ocean City.

Attorney Edgar L. Yow and Dr. Samuel J. Gray planted the seed for the beach community on the Atlantic Ocean where Blacks could have home ownership in the middle of segregation. The seed grew.

Wade Chestnut conceived the name Ocean City and, along with family members, bought tracts of land on the island.

In 1949, stock was sold and an interracial corporation, Ocean City Developers, Inc. was formed for ownership of the land in the area. The corporation divided the beach into business and residential areas. The first homes were built by William M Eaton, a contractor from Fayetteville.

While Ocean City was born in 1949, 2009 was the birth of the Ocean City Jazz Festival on a front porch. Celebrating the 60 anniversary of Ocean City, a Fayetteville N.C. jazz saxophonist and his accompanist provided entertainment on the porch of the Ocean City Community Center.

The crowd grew and both visitors and residents enjoyed the celebration, launching the annual Ocean City Jazz Festival as a vehicle to promote and celebrate the history of the Ocean City Community.

Last year the festival attracted over 600 visitors each night and this year attendance is expected to increase.

This year’s festival Co-Chairs are Carla and Craig Torrey.

“The festival is incredibly meaningful to our community on many levels. Economically, it provides a boost to local businesses — hotels, restaurants and vendors and socially it brings people together from all walks of life to celebrate music, culture and shared experiences,” Carla Torrey said. “It’s a moment where the community can come together in joy, pride and unity, while also spotlighting our rich heritage.

“Most importantly, the festival helps promote and preserve the history of the Ocean City Beach community as one of the first African American beach communities in North Carolina,” she continued. “By highlighting this legacy, the festival not only entertains but educates, ensuring that this important piece of cultural history continues to be recognized and honored.”

The July 4 weekend stage will host 16 performers over the three days along with other events and activities that are enjoyable and enlightening.

“The festival includes a series of enriching umbrella events, including the ‘Learn and Hike,’ a guided walking tour of the Ocean City Beach Community; an art exhibit ‘Black Beaches during Segregation’ by Rik Freeman with an artist talk at the Ocean City Beach Community, and the ‘Uncle Nearest Experience,’ which honors the legacy of the first known African American master distiller,” said the Co-Chair.

She continued, “We’re also thrilled to feature our 2025 festival artist, René Dickerson, whose work beautifully captures the soul of jazz. His art adds a vibrant and inspiring visual element to this year’s celebration. It’s more than just a festival — it’s a celebration of culture, history, art and music. The festival helps preserve and honor the rich legacy of Ocean City Beach.”

This year’s festival begins on July 4 and continues until July 6. Performers include Dee Lucas, Camille Thurman, Philip “Doc” Martin, Herlin Riley, Marion Meadows, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, Phylicia Rae, Adam Hawley, Brian Simpson, Jacob Webb, Pul Jackson Jr., Nathan Mitchell, the John Brown Quintet and Althea Rene.

“Whether you're a longtime supporter or a first-time guest, we invite you to be part of something meaningful, joyful and deeply rooted in love for our community and its history,” Torrey said. “Being Co-Chair is truly an honor. While the workload can definitely be intense at times, I’m grateful to share both the stress and the joy with my co-chair and husband, Craig.

“The Festival Committee and the Advisory Committee are in it with us every step of the way. Seeing the festival come to life — the music, the energy, the smiles — is incredibly rewarding,” she continued. “Being part of something that brings joy and cultural value to both our community and visitors from all over the country makes every challenge worthwhile.

“I’d just like to express how truly grateful we are for the incredible support we’ve received from our sponsors — especially the North Carolina Arts Council, the Onslow Jacksonville Council for the Arts, the town of North Topsail Beach, Only in Onslow and all of our amazing community businesses and supporters. This festival is a labor of love, and it simply wouldn’t be possible without the collective dedication of so many,” Torrey closed.

The committee strives to create an intimate and welcoming environment where people can feel connected — through music, through culture and through the shared experience of being together, according to Torrey.

For more information and ticket prices go to https://oceancityjazzfest.com