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The Tams

Beach Music Weddings, Festivals & Corporate Events
    Biography
    The Tams are Beach Music Show icons - Shag Dance Music from the 1960's

    THE TAMS have been entertaining and thrilling audiences for over 40 years!

    Known as one of the Southeast’s top-name Beach Bands, THE TAMS have recorded many $1 million-plus selling songs! Known for such hits as “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy“, “What Kind of Fool”, “I’ve Been Hurt” and “Untie Me“, The Tams have had 2 Gold Records and 1 Platinum Single. “What Kind of Fool” hit #9 on the Billboard charts, and #6 on the R&B charts. “Hey, Girl Don’t Bother Me” hit #1 in the UK in 1971.

    While “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” only hit #26 on the Top 40, the single sold over 1,000,000 copies, sending it to Platinum status. In 1986, “Ain’t Nothin Like Shaggin’ ” hit #6 in UK Billboard charts, before being banned due to the UK’s definition of “shag”. Though their style of music has historically been referred to as Beach Music, it can be also classified as a mixture of Smooth Soul, and R&B. Their show is fun, fresh, and exciting and appeals to audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Consider this enduring original celebrity Shag Beach Band for your event.

    To hear it, you might think 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, is like an extravaganza of light and energy. But to experience it, you must say it…”I want the Tams!” The Tams are one of America”s all-time favorite recording acts. World renown for their special blend of music that makes up the Beach Music sound, the Tams entertain crowds around the globe nearly 300 days a year! Probably best known for their 1968 gold hit, “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”, the Tams are celebrating the recent success of their newest single, “Ain”t Nothing Like Shagging”, which reached number 8 on the European charts. The group began performing in local taverns and nightclubs for wages of $1.25 each. To them, this money was from heaven. Imagine – getting paid to sing. The initial pay of these early days only provided enough money to buy matching multi-colored Tam O” Shanter hats on stage – in which local patrons of the nightspots nicknamed them the Tams, a name that would eventually be known around the world.

    In 1962, producer Bill Lowery agreed to cut one demo single on the group. To his surprise, the record gained much regional success, allowing him to negotiate a major recording contract with ABC records. Their first album, “Presenting the Tams”, produced a number one record, “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)”. This propelled The Tams into the professional status and national popularity. They soon found themselves playing to sold-out auditoriums from The Howard Theater in Washington, DC to the famed Apollo Theater in New York City. A string of hits followed, including “You Lied To Your Daddy”, “Hey Girl”, “I've Been Hurt”, “It”s Better To Have Loved A Little”, and “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”. During this time, the Tams developed a spectacular revue touring with their own 14 Karat Gold Band.

    After years of appearances and 10 albums, The Tams have been honored with two Gold Records. In 1986 the group received the coveted award and title “Beach Band of the Decade”, at the Beach Music Awards. In 1988, The Tams were spotlighted as the Outstanding Black Musical Group by the Atlanta Black History Awards. In 1992, The Tams were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The Tams are a group that has bridged the generations of music. Their unique sound spans all ages, styles, and regions. They are classic with an exhilarating stage show. Charles Pope, original member, brother to the late Joe Pope, Lil Redd has been with the Tams for 35 years since he was 6 years old and Greg Gallashaw, Reginald Preston, Robert Arnold, and Elton Richardson have been a member for over 15 years. They are the Beach, they are good times, they are times, they simply rock and roll at it”s finest.

    Genres For This Artist 

    R&B, Motown, Oldies, & Beach

    Suggested Event Types 

    • Weddings 
    • Private Parties 
    • Corporate Events 

    Quote: $8,500 – 10,000.

     

     

     

    Song List 

    Tams Originals 

    • Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
    • Better To Have Loved A Little
    • Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me
    • I’ve Been Hurt
    • Laugh It Off
    • Might As Well Forget Him
    • Riding For A Fall
    • Silly Little Girl
    • Too Much Fooling Around
    • What Kind Of Fool

    Wedding Songs

    • James Taylor – How Sweet it is to be Loved by You
    • Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
    • Ben E. King – Stand By Me
    • Elvis – Can’t Help Falling in Love
    • Etta James (Instrumental) – At Last
    • Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
    • Frank Sinatra – Just the Way you Look Tonight
    • Lionel Richie – Just to be Close to You
    • Lionie Richie – My Love by
    • Louie Armstrong – Wonderful World
    • Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves
    • Platters – With This Ring
    • Stevie Wonder – Knock Me off My Feet
    • Stevie Wonder – You Are the Sunshine of My Life
    • Temptations – My Girl
    • The Drifters – This Magic Moment
    • Van Morrison – Crazy Love
    • Van Morrison – Moon Dance

    Contemporary and Dance

    • Bobby Brown – My Prerogative
    • Boyz Ii Men – End Of The Road
    • Cameo – Word Up
    • E.U. – Da Butt
    • Earth-Wind And Fire – Let’s Groove Tonight
    • Marcia Griffith – Electric Slide
    • Michael Jackson – Billy Jean
    • Michael Jackson – Rock With You
    • Morris Day & The Time – Jungle Love
    • Morris Day & The Time – The Bird
    • Van Mccoy – The Hustle

    International

    • Ricky Martin – La Vida Loca
    • Modern, Alternative, and Classic Rock
    • Beatles – Hey Jude
    • Bob Seger – Old Time Rock And Roll
    • Boz Scaggs – Lowdown
    • Doobie Brothers – Long Train Running
    • Gap Band – Early In The Morning
    • Gap Band – You Dropped A Bomb
    • Jimmy Buffett – Flesh & Bone
    • Jimmy Buffett – Margaritaville
    • L.T.D. – (Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again
    • Ohio Players – Fire
    • Ohio Players – Rollercoaster
    • Rolling Stones – Satisfaction

    Motown, Oldies, and Beach

    • Ben E. King – Stand By Me
    • Brook Benton – Rainy Night In Georgia
    • Chubby Checker – The Twist
    • Drifters – Magic Moment
    • Drifters – Under The Boardwalk
    • Drifters – Up On The Roof
    • Embers – I Love Beach Music
    • Four Tops – Reach Out
    • Four Tops – Same Old Song
    • Four Tops – Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
    • Isley Brothers – Shout
    • Jackie Wilson – Higher And Higher
    • Little Richard – Good Golly Miss Molly
    • Lloyd Price – Stagger Lee
    • Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves
    • Otis Redding – Dock Of The Bay
    • Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
    • Sam Cooke – You Send Me
    • Spinners – I’ll Be Around
    • Spinners – Mighty Love
    • Supremes – Can’t Hurry Love
    • Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
    • Temptations – Get Ready
    • Temptations – My Girl
    • Temptations – Wish It Would Rain
    • The O’Jays – Love Train
    • The O’Jays – Put Your Hands Together
    • Wilson Pickett – Midnight Hour
    • Wilson Pickett – Mustang Sally
    • Young Rascals – Good Lovin’

    R&B, Funk, and Disco

    • Arthur Conley – Do You Like Good Music
    • Carl Carlton – Bad Mama Jamma
    • Chairmen Of The Board – Carolina Girls
    • Clarence Carter – Strokin’
    • Commodores – Brick House
    • Commodores – Easy
    • James Brown – I Feel Good
    • James Brown – Living In America
    • Jerry Butler – Your Precious Love
    • Kool & The Gang – Celebration
    • Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It
    • Kool & The Gang – Joanna
    • Marvin Gaye – Pride And Joy
    • Marvin Gaye – Stubborn Kind Of Fella
    • Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
    • Parliament Funkadelic – Flashlight
    • Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman
    • Rick James – Super Freak
    • Showmen – 39-21-40 Shape
    • Showmen – Hey Baby
    • Village People – Ymca

    Retro 70’s and 80’s

    • Billy Ocean – Caribbean Queen
    • KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down
    • KC & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty

    Other Songs

    • 2 Pac – California Love
    • Bruce Channel – Hey Bsby
    • Major Lance – Monkey Time
    • Major Lance – Um Um Um Um
    • Maurice Williams – Stay
    • Mc Hammer – Can’t Touch This
    • Willie T – Thank You John

     

     

    Thank you so much Jim!!

    Everyone was raving about the Tams! They did a fantastic job at the Atlanta History Center last weekend (Sat. Feb. 26, 2022) in Buckhead Atlanta!

     Thank you again!

    Leisy

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