|
To hear it, you think that you just stepped
into Motown. To breathe it, you smell a tropical breeze
caressing a sandy beach. To feel it, you let the rhythm
grasp your body and whirl it into motion. To see it, you
view an extravaganza of light and energy. But to experience
it, you must say… "I want Robert Lee Smith &
The Tams."
Robert Lee Smith & The Tams are one of America's all-time
favorite groups. World renown for their special blend of
music that makes up the "Beach Music" sound, Robert
Lee Smith and The Tams entertain crowds around the globe
nearly 200 days per year!
The Tams are probably best known for their 1968 gold hit
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy.
The Tams began performing in local taverns and nightclubs
for wages of $1.25 each. To them, this was money from heaven.
Imagine getting paid to sing! Initial pay of these early
days only provided money to buy matching multicolored tams
to wear as stage attire.
In 1962, producer Bill Lowery agreed to cut one demonstration
single on the group. To his surprise, the record gained
regional success, allowing him to negotiate a major recording
contract for The Tams with ABC Records. Their first album
on the ABC label produced a number one record What Kind
of Fool (Do You Think I Am). This hit propelled the group
into professional status and national popularity.
The Tams soon found themselves playing to sold out auditoriums
from The Howard Theater in Washington, D.C. to the famed
Apollo Theater in New York City.
A string of hits followed, including You Lied to Your Daddy,
Hey Girl (Don't Bother Me), I've Been Hurt, It's Better
To Have Loved A Little, Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy and
many, many more.
| 
