THE TAMS

The group formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1952. Their line-up at the time consisted of brothers Joseph and Charles Pope, Horace Kay, and Robert Lee Smith. They took their name from the Tam o’shanter hats they wore in their live shows. (Early on, they were too poor to afford stage uniforms.)

The group sang together for nine years before they finally got a record deal. Their debut single, “Vacation Time” / “If Love Were Like Rivers,” came out on Heritage Records in 1961 but did not make the national charts. By 1962, the Tams were on a different label, Arlen. Their first release, “Untie Me,” was written by Joe South (“Games People Play,” “Walk a Mile in My Shoes).” It became a sizable Rhythm & Blues hit, going to #12 on that chart and reaching #60 in the pop market.

In 1963, the Tams got a major-label deal with ABC-Paramount, where they recorded their biggest hit. “What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” spent three weeks at #1 R&B and peaked at #9 pop in early 1964. Their next hit, “Hey Girl, Don’t Bother Me,” came out a few months later. The Tams placed a half-dozen singles on the charts in 1964 alone, but did not have another national hit until 1968—the same year they left ABC-Paramount. The group went on to record for a number of different labels, including 1-2-3, Capitol, APT, MGM South, Sounds South, Passion, Wonder, and Compleat Records. But they were never able to recapture their 1962-64 glory days.

That did not, however, keep the Tams from becoming huge favorites on the Beach Music scene of North and South Carolina, as well as the UK’s Northern Soul circuit. In 1971, their seven-year-old recording of “Hey Girl, Don’t Bother Me” became a #1 hit in England. It also topped the Irish charts, making the Tams the first R&B vocal group to hit #1 in Ireland. The Tams further made the UK charts with 1987’s “There Ain’t Nothing Like Shaggin’.” (The Shag was a popular dance among teen-agers in the Southern U.S. during the early ‘60s, so get your mind out of the gutter!)

“What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” became a perennial on U.S. oldies radio and was used in the 1989 film comedy, Shag. In 1999, the Tams were featured on Jimmy Buffett’s album, Beach House on the Moon. 

Of the original Tams, Joseph Pope, 62, died on March 16, 1996, and Charles Pope, 76, died on July 11, 2013. A Tams group with original member Robert Lee Smith continues to perform. In recent years, their line-up has included Little Red (the son of Charles Pope) and Albert Cottle, Jr.

Charted singles:

“Untie Me” (1962) R&B #12, Pop #60
“What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)” (1963-64) R&B #1 (3 weeks), Pop #9
“You Lied to Your Daddy” (1964) R&B #27, Pop #70
“It’s All Right (You’re Just in Love)” (1964) Pop #79
“Hey Girl, Don’t Bother Me” (1964) R&B #10, Pop #41
“Find Another Love” (1964) Pop #87
“Silly Little Girl” (1964) Pop #87
“Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” (1968) R&B #26, Pop #61
“Trouble Maker” (1968) Pop #118