Malcolm “Chicken” Hicks

Malcolm Ray “Chicken” Hicks, born November 27, 1925, in Durham, became one of the most vivid and influential personalities in the formative years of the Carolina shag, a dance style that developed along the coastal communities of the Carolinas in the mid-twentieth century. Raised in Durham, particularly in and around the Hayti district, Hicks was exposed at an early age to African American music and dance traditions, including the jitterbug, which deeply shaped his

rhythmic instincts and approach to movement. These early experiences proved crucial, as they placed him at the intersection of segregated cultural worlds during a time when music and dance were often divided by race. His life took a decisive turn during and after his service in the

United States Coast Guard in World War II, after which he gravitated toward the beach communities, especially Carolina Beach, where he would spend much of his life immersed in the emerging dance culture that would later be known as the shag. Hicks’ lasting significance lies in his role as a cultural bridge, quietly but powerfully transmitting rhythm-and-blues music and dance styles from Black communities into white beach circles at a time when such exchange was far from common. He regularly visited nearby Black beach resorts such as

Seabreeze Beach, where he absorbed new dance steps, musical phrasing, and stylistic nuances, then brought those influences back to the predominantly white dance pavilions. He was known to persuade jukebox operators to stock records by rhythm-and-blues artists, helping to shift the musical tastes of an entire generation of dancers.

In doing so, Hicks contributed significantly to the sound and feel of the shag, which depended heavily on the backbeat and groove of R&B records. His dancing itself became legendary, marked by smoothness, creativity, and a relaxed but precise sense of timing, along with signature movements such as the “camel walk.” Just as memorable was his personal flair; he often danced in a jacket and tie without a shirt,

projecting a charismatic, almost theatrical presence that made him a fixture on dance floors for decades. Despite his growing reputation, Hicks maintained a working life outside the spotlight, building a career in construction and eventually operating the All Wood Fence Company in Carolina Beach. He never pursued competitive dancing in a formal sense,

preferring instead the social and expressive aspects of the shag, yet his influence was widely recognized within the community. Over time he was honored with induction into the Shaggers Hall of Fame, reflecting the esteem in which he was held by fellow dancers and historians of the form. Perhaps even more important was his role as a mentor, as he encouraged younger dancers to embrace the music, trust their instincts, and carry forward the traditions he had helped shape. His philosophy emphasized feeling the rhythm

rather than adhering to rigid patterns, a perspective that preserved the improvisational spirit at the heart of the shag. In his personal life, Hicks married Lynda Myers Hicks, whom he met through the dance scene, and remained closely tied to the Carolina Beach community, including his involvement with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Friends consistently remembered him as warm, approachable, and endlessly enthusiastic, a man whose personality was as memorable as his dancing. He continued to dance and remain active well into his later years, embodying the vitality and joy that defined the culture he loved. Malcolm “Chicken” Hicks died on Sunday, July 4, 2004, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, at the age of seventy-eight, leaving behind his wife, family, and a lasting legacy within the shag community that continues to resonate along the Carolina coast and beyond.