The Tams
The Tams, a groovy group from the 1960's, continues playing for audiences nationwide.
Prior to the major shifts regarding the elimination of segregation in America, The Tams, (named after Tam o' Shanter hats they wore on stage), a Southern R&B group from Atlanta, Georgia, came together in spite of the odds against them. Its original members were Charles and Joseph Pope, Robert Lee Smith, Horace Key, and Floyd Ashton. In 1962, "Untie Me" reached #12 on the R&B charts followed by "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am," which was #6 on the Billboard pop charts. And in 1968, "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy," reached #26 on the R&B charts, selling over a million copies.
With other popular tunes including, "I've Been Hurt," now considered a "beach music classic," The Tams never stopped jamming in all the right places. Ranking #1 on the UK singles chart for "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me," they have also been featured in movies such as Shag and others while receiving credit and praise from fellow musicians including, Jimmy Buffet. These "Georgia Hall of Famer's" split into two versions today with one fronted by Robert Lee Smith, the other by Charles Pope, both continue to perform in 2022 as the groovy energy from the 1960's will never fade away.
