Tommy James, originally known as Thomas Gregory Jackson, is a renowned American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He gained widespread recognition as the frontman of the iconic 1960s rock band, Tommy James and the Shondells. The band is celebrated for their chart-topping hits such as “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover,” and “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
Early Life and Career
Tommy James was born in Dayton, Ohio, and later relocated with his family to Niles, Michigan. His journey into the world of music began at an early age when, at just four years old, he ventured into child modeling. At the age of twelve, in 1959, he embarked on his musical journey by forming a band called “The Echoes,” which eventually evolved into “Tom and the Tornadoes.”
In 1964, the band underwent a name change, rebranding themselves as “The Shondells.” During this period, Jack Douglas, a local DJ at WNIL radio station in Niles, established his own record label, Snap Records. The Shondells were among the local bands that had the privilege of recording at WNIL Studios. Notably, one of their tracks, “Hanky Panky,” was originally composed by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and had been recorded by the duo under the name “The Raindrops.” Although the song achieved local success, the record label lacked the resources for nationwide promotion, leading to its initial obscurity.
The Breakthrough
In 1965, a local dance promoter named Bob Mack stumbled upon a copy of “Hanky Panky” in a used record bin and began featuring it in his Pittsburgh dance clubs. This sparked renewed interest in the song. Subsequently, a bootlegger from the Pittsburgh area duplicated the track, slightly increasing its tempo in the process. The bootleg copies gained tremendous popularity, with an estimated 80,000 units sold in just ten days. “Hanky Panky” quickly ascended to the number one spot on Pittsburgh’s radio charts in early 1966.
The growing success of the song caught the attention of Jack Douglas, whose name and contact information were displayed on Snap Records labels. Encouraged by numerous inquiries from Pittsburgh, Tommy James decided to visit Pennsylvania, where he met with Bob Mack and Chuck Rubin, responsible for talent bookings at Mack’s dance clubs. Simultaneously, “Hanky Panky” began receiving recognition as a regional breakout hit from major music trade papers, including Billboard, Cashbox, and Record World.
With Rubin’s industry connections, they embarked on a journey to New York City to secure a record deal. They approached several major recording labels, initially receiving promising offers from most of them. However, one label, Roulette Records, delayed its response because its owner, Morris Levy, was away at the time. Roulette Records ultimately became their choice after other major labels began declining offers. Morris Levy had influenced their decision by asserting his ownership of the record to the other record companies, effectively deterring them from pursuing the opportunity.
Since the original Shondells had disbanded two years earlier, Tommy James was the sole member remaining. Bob Mack made his dance club bands available to James, but none of them seemed to be the right fit until one of the band’s guitarists introduced James to the Thunderbird Lounge in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. It was here that James performed with the house band, the Raconteurs, which eventually transformed into the new Shondells. Thomas Gregory Jackson adopted the professional moniker of Tommy James.
By the third week of June 1966, “Hanky Panky” had claimed the top position at WLS radio. One month later, in July 1966, the song achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the number one single in the United States.
Tommy James’ journey in the music industry is an inspiring tale of perseverance and musical talent that propelled him to the forefront of the 1960s rock music scene.
