The Tams

The Tams are an American vocal group from Atlanta, Georgia, who enjoyed their greatest chart success in the 1960s, but continued to chart in the 1970s, and the 1980s. Two separate lineups of the group continue to perform and record. One lineup, called 'The Original Tams with R. L. Smith', features original member Robert Lee Smith, and the other lineup is under the leadership of Charles Pope, the brother of co-founder Joe Pope.

For other uses, see Tams (disambiguation).
The Tams
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, United States
GenresR&B, Soul, Beach music
Years active1960–present
LabelsArlen Records, ABC-Paramount, Probe, Virgin
Websitewww.thetams.com
MembersRobert Lee Smith
Little Red
Past membersJoseph Pope
Horace Key
Floyd Ashton
Charles Pope

Career

The band formed in 1960, and took their name from the Tam o'shanter hats they wore on stage.[1] By 1962, they had a hit single on Arlen Records. "Untie Me", a Joe South composition, became a Top 20 on the Billboard R&B chart.[1] The follow-up releases largely failed until 1964, when "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)", reached the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song spent three weeks at number one on the Cash Box R&B chart. Many of their popular hits were written by Ray Whitley.[1]

"Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" was also a modest US hit the same year.[1] The Tams had only one further major US hit (in 1968) when "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy", peaked at #26 on the US R&B chart, and subsequently made the UK Top 40 in 1970.[2]

Their 1965 recording "I've Been Hurt" was their biggest regional hit (based on sales and airplay) prior to 1980.

The group reached the Number one slot in the UK Singles Chart in September 1971, with the re-issue of "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me", thanks to its initial support from the then thriving UK Northern soul scene. The song also went to number one in Ireland, making them the first black soul group to top the Irish Charts.[3]

The group did not chart again until 1987, when their song "There Ain't Nothing Like Shaggin'" reached #21 in UK, propelled by a regionally-popular dance known as the Carolina shag, which featured heavily in the subsequent 1989 film, Shag.[1] However, the track was banned by the BBC because the word "shag" means "to have sexual intercourse" in colloquial British English.[4]

Still quite popular in the Southeastern United States, they continue to record new music and perform at well-attended concerts. In 1999, they were featured performers with Jimmy Buffett on his CD, Beach House on the Moon, and also toured with him around the country.

American singer-songwriter Tameka Harris, born in 1975, is the daughter of Dianne Cottle-Pope and Charles Pope.[5] Charles Pope died from Alzheimer's disease on July 11, 2013, at the age of 76.[6]

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed The Tams among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[7]

Later years

In recent years the group has been led by Albert "Little Red" Cottle Jr., the son of former member Albert Cottle.[8]

Members
  • Joseph Pope (born Joseph Lee Pope, November 6, 1933, Atlanta, Georgia; died March 16, 1996)
  • Robert Lee Smith (born March 18, 1950)
  • Horace Key (born April 13, 1934, Atlanta, Georgia, died 1995)
  • Charles Pope (born Charles Walter Pope, August 7, 1936, Atlanta, Georgia; died July 11, 2013)
  • Floyd Ashton (born August 15, 1933) (member from 1960–1963)
  • Little Red aka Lil' Red (born August 2, 1969)[2][9][10]

Singles
Year Title Chart positions
US
[11]		 US
R&B
[11]		 AUS
[12]		 UK
[13]
1962 "Untie Me" 60 12 - -
1963 "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" 9 1 - -
1964 "You Lied to Your Daddy" 70 27 - -
"It's All Right (You're Just in Love)" 79 - - -
"Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" 41 10 - -
"Find Another Love" 87 - - -
"Silly Little Girl" 87 - - -
1965 "I've Been Hurt" - - - -
1968 "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" 61 26 - 32
"Trouble Maker" 118 - - -
1971 "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" - - 87 1
1987 "There Ain't Nothing Like Shaggin'" - - - 21
1988 "My Baby Sure Can Shag" - - 100 91

See also

Bibliography
  • The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 1161/2. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 140. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 549. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "h2g2 - The Origins and Common Usage of British Swear-words". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  5. Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. p. 285. ISBN 0-86554-504-9.
  6. Doc Rock. "July to December". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  7. Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  8. Martinsville Speedway, 6/22/2015 - News, Love of the Music Has Kept Tams Going Strong
  9. My AJC Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Charles Pope, 76: Original member of R&B group the Tams By Michelle E. Shaw - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  10. Theoriginaltams.com Bio's
  11. "The Tams (US)". Music VF. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 304. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "The Tams (UK)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
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