Remembrances of a Grand Strand Music Legend

By Christina Knauss The Grand Strand music scene lost one of its best friends and ambassadors when Jeff Roberts, 55, died on Monday, Jan. 12. Roberts, best known as former manager of Sounds Familiar and as director of the South by Southeast organization, died of a heart attack at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. His passing leaves a huge hole in the Strand music scene, one that Jeff knew perhaps better than anyone else currently on the planet. For more than 30 years, he dedicated himself to sharing good music with everyone he met, and in the process he brought happiness into countless lives. He became known around town as the “Big Man” and the “Minister of Music,” because if there was something to be known about music, Jeff knew it. After Sounds Familiar closed its doors, he went on to run Sounds Better in the Hidden Village shopping center. He also ran South by Southeast, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting American music and music education in area schools. I first met Jeff back in the early ‘90s when I was working as a music reporter for the main local newspaper. At the time, he ran Sounds Familiar, tucked in a corner of a shopping center at 38th Avenue North. The store had one of the best selections of music of every genre that I have ever seen. No matter what kind of day you were having, if you were a music lover, you could count on a warm welcome and some great conversation when you walked in Sounds Familiar. Jeff surrounded himself with a staff who knew and loved music as much as he did, and they all were always ready to help a customer locate a hard-to-find item. Or, even better, once Jeff figured out what you liked, he’d suggest other artists and genres. I lost count over the years of how many CDs I bought on his suggestion, and because of him I was exposed to many artists I wouldn’t otherwise have discovered. Jeff cared deeply about Grand Strand musicians, and always did whatever he could to get their music out to a wide audience. His stores always had a great local music section, and I can remember that he often had CDs and information about local performers even before we found out about them at the paper. He clued me in to many, many great stories and helped me and many other people to discover the true depth of talent that the often under-appreciated Strand scene had to offer. Jeff also, always, was just a wonderful person to be around. His big smile and deep laugh were ever present, whether you met him in the store or out at a show. He always was genuinely glad to see friends and colleagues, and genuinely cared about what was going on their lives. The atmosphere of camaraderie and fun at Sounds Familiar stayed with folks even after they left Myrtle Beach. One friend and colleague who moved to North Carolina in 1993 for years made Sounds Familiar his first stop whenever he visited Myrtle Beach. It’s been a long time since I saw Jeff last, and I wish I’d made more of an effort to stay in touch. Still, his love and appreciation for local and regional music stays with me. I learned a lot from him about music and friendship. I wish I could walk through the door of his music store and one more time get a wave, a smile and a big round of laughter from the “Big Man.” Rest in peace, Jeff. The music will go on, but it won’t sound quite the same without you.