The Tams

The Tams were formed in 1952 in Atlanta, Georgia. Original membership included Joseph Pope, Charles Pope, Robert Lee Smith, Horace Key and Al Cottle. The Tams got their name by their wearing Tam O'Shanter hats on stage.
The Tams have recorded 13 albums and have been performing for over 37 years.The bands first hit "Untie Me" came about in 1962. They have had 1 Platinum & 2 Gold records. They were featured in 'Top of The Pops" and have traveled the world over.
They have also been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Beach Music Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Hall of Fame and were voted Outstanding Black Musical Group and 80's Beach Band of the Decade.

Career Highlights:
Honors Include:

1 Platinum record
2 Gold Records
10 Albums
1986 " Beach Band of the Decade " by Beach Music Awards
1992 Inducted into the Atlanta Hall of Fame
1994 Inducted in Beach Music Hall of Fame
1996 Inducted into Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Discography

What Kind of Fool - #1 R& B / #6 Top 40 (1963) -
This was The Tams first national hit record.

Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy - #26 Top 40 (1968) -
This song is The Tams' greatest US Chart success, selling over 1,000,000 copies and becoming their only RIAA Certified Gold Record single.

Hey Girl Don't Bother Me - Three weeks at #1 in England (1971) One of three UK chart hits for The Tams, this ABC/Dunhill records release also has the distinction of being the #1 song of year in the UK.

I've Been Hurt - Although never on the charts, "I've Been Hurt" was most likely the biggest regional hit ever, based on sales and airplay. Many radio stations and DJs consider "I've Been Hurt" to be the biggest selling and most played Tams recording EVER, even though it was primarily popular in the southeast, and not recognized as a national hit by Billboard. Success in England. The Tams had a separate and successful tour of the British charts. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" made it to the UK Top 40 (#32) in 1970. The next year they had the #1 song in the UK, with a reissue of Ray Whitley's "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me." The song hit #1 on September 18, 1971 taking over from Diana Ross' hit "I'm Still Waiting," and remained there for three weeks until Rod Stewart's mega-hit "Maggie May" bumped it from the top.