Thomas Gregory Jackson (born April 29, 1947), known professionally as Tommy James, and also known as Tommy Tadger, is an American rock, psychedelic rock[1] musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, widely known as leader of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells.[2]
Early life and career
Born in Dayton, Ohio, James and his family moved to Niles, Michigan. He was a child model at the age of four.[2][3] In 1959, at the age of twelve, he formed the band “The Echoes”, which eventually became “Tom and the Tornadoes”.[3] In 1964 the band changed its name to The Shondells. That same year, Jack Douglas, a local DJ at WNIL radio station in Niles, formed his own record label, Snap Records. The Shondells were one of the local bands he recorded at WNIL studios.[4] One of the songs was the Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich ditty “Hanky Panky“, which the pair had recorded under the name The Raindrops.[4] The song was a hit locally, but the label had no resources for national promotion, and it was soon forgotten.[3][4
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also, check this out from Best Classic Band website: HERE
Hanky Panky Time!… yea, I guess it was what was referred to at that time as ‘bubble gum’ music, but hey, it was big hit during my early years. After many years I just played it and LOVED IT! 🙂 as for bubble gum, I even liked Sugar, sugar with the Archies.. oh my, it’s all coming out now….
