New bandstand in North Myrtle Beach named after ‘King of Shag’

Harold Bessent, better known to folks along the Grand Strand as “Fat Harold” and owner of a business by the same name, was honored a little over a year after his death with the naming of a new town center bandstand in his honor.

“What better way to remember Harold than by adding his name to this entertainment venue that will bring tens of thousands of people together over the years to enjoy all types of music and positive expression,” North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley said. “Friendships will be born here, and existing friendships will be strengthened.”

Hatley said Bessent survived a challenging childhood to become a successful entrepreneur who loved North Myrtle Beach and became known to locals as the “father of the shag community.”

City Council approved naming the new stage after Bessent, an entrepreneur who owned several nightspots in the Main Street and Ocean Boulevard area of the city for more than 30 years. His nickname came from his partnership with Harold Worley when they purchased a club called Fat Jacks and simply changed the name to Fat Harold’s, Worley said.

“He and I were partners for over 30 years,” said Worley, who continues to operate the North Myrtle Beach nightspot popular with shag dancers from across the Southeast. “Harold, first of all, was a good guy and he loved to dance. We called him the King of Shag. He liked that. He was a very giving person.”

Bessent, who died May 22, 2015 after a long illness, was instrumental in keeping shag dancing alive by helping get the dance approved as South Carolina’s state dance. He started the first OD Shag Club and was eventually inducted into the Shaggers Hall of Fame. Bessent also is remembered for his philanthropic works, especially for his support of Camp Kemo, a summer camp for young patients with cancer. Moved by the death of a grandson who died of cancer at a young age, Bessent became a long-time supporter of the program and held annual auctions in the beach club to raise funds.

“Over the years he donated more than $2 million to Camp Kemo,” Worley said. “He worked hard all his life and…we miss the old boy.”

Reflecting on Bessent on Thursday, Hatley described him as a “loving, kind and gentle man.”

“He loved his community and always worked to grow and preserve the culture of our community,” Hatley said.

Hatley said dedicating the entertainment stage to Bessent sprang from a multi-million dollar stormwater drainage project that forced the redesign and revitalization of an area commonly known as The Horseshoe, an area where live bands provide free concerts to the public during tourist season. Also included in the project was installation of permanent public restrooms.

The stage was dedicated last week.

“With a new stage planned as part of that revitalization, we thought it would just be appropriate to name that stage after him (Bessent) because he had done so much to bring tourism to the area,” Hatley said.

One of Bessent’s biggest competitors, H. Lee Brown who owns the O.D. Pavilion/Sunset Grill on Ocean Boulevard, described Bessent as “the definition of a legend.”

“If you came to Ocean Drive, you went to his business or mine. We were competitors but there was never any problem between the two of us,” Brown said. “He was a businessman but he mingled with his people like I do and that gave him a reputation. People knew who he was.”

Brown said the naming of the stage in Bessent’s honor is well deserved. “He was a fellow of the community; a good man. He did a lot for people,” Brown said. “He is missed.”

Worley said Bessent would be pleased with the remembrance. “He would be pleased and humbled that the city would do that for him. He was a humble person.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 6:45 PM with the headline "New bandstand in North Myrtle Beach named after ‘King of Shag’."