Tommy Roe
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Thomas David "Tommy" Roe (born May 9, 1942) is a retired American rock and pop singer-songwriter. Best-remembered for his hits "
Sheila Sheila (alternatively spelled Shelagh and Sheelagh) is a common feminine given name, derived from the Irish name ''Síle'', which is believed to be a Gaelic form of the Latin name Caelia, the feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius, mean ...
" (1962) and " Dizzy" (1969), Roe was "widely perceived as one of the archetypal
bubblegum Bubble gum or bubblegum is a type of chewing gum, designed to be inflated out of the mouth as a bubble. Bubble gum flavor While there is a bubble gum "flavor" – which various artificial flavorings including esters are mixed to obtain – it ...
artists of the late 1960s, but cut some pretty decent rockers along the way, especially early in his career," wrote the
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
journalist Bill Dahl.


Biography

Roe was born and raised in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
, United States, where he attended Brown High School. After graduating, he landed a job at General Electric soldering wires. Tommy Roe first recorded his original song "Sheila" in 1960 for Jud Phillips's Judd label. "I wrote this poem for a girl I had a crush on in high school, and her name was Freda," recalled Roe in 2015. "
ud Phillips said, UD or ud may refer to: Companies * UD Trucks, a Japanese truck manufacturer * United Devices, a commercial distributed computing company * United Distillers, a whiskey holding company * Upper Deck, a manufacturer of collectibles and trading ca ...
'Son, I like that song but we gotta do somethin' about that title.' So he sent me home and Aunt Sheila was visiting that weekend. The rest is history!" The Judd single, misspelled "Shelia" and credited to "Tommy Roe and the Satins," is simpler than the more famous hit, with a standard vocal, rhythm combo, and backing chorus. It was a regional hit but did not chart nationally. Roe re-recorded the song for
ABC-Paramount ABC Records was an American record label founded in New York City in 1955. It originated as the main popular music label operated by the Am-Par Record Corporation. Am-Par also created the Impulse! jazz label in 1960. It acquired many labels bef ...
in 1962, with a new hook: an insistent drum
paradiddle In ''rudimental drumming'', a form of percussion music, a drum rudiment is one of a number of relatively small patterns which form the foundation for more extended and complex drumming patterns. The term "drum rudiment" is most closely assoc ...
modeled on the 1957 hit "
Peggy Sue "Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Jerry Allison and Norman Petty, and recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly on September 20, 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on label of the single (Coral 9-61885), but band members Jo ...
." Roe's slight Southern accent and his interpolation of a hiccup in the vocal invited comparisons with
Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas ...
. This was deliberate, according to Roe: "Felton roducer Felton Jarvissaid, 'We're gonna do it different. You know there's a vacuum left of Buddy Holly. There are still a lot of Buddy Holly fans out there so we need to draw attention to you, so I'm gonna put Buddy Holly drums on "Sheila."' I wasn't really crazy about that whole idea because I was a big fan of Buddy Holly's and I felt like we were sponging off of him and his whole sound." The new arrangement of "Sheila" became a ''Billboard'' number 1 hit in the U.S. and Australia in 1962. A buildup of global sales of "Sheila" meant that the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
did not present the
gold record Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile meta ...
until 1969. When "Sheila" became a hit in 1962, ABC-Paramount asked him to go on tour to promote the hit. He was reluctant to give up his secure job at GE until ABC-Paramount advanced him $5,000. However, in March 1963, the UK music magazine ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' reported that he and
Chris Montez Chris Montez (born Ezekiel Christopher Montañez on January 17, 1943) is an American guitarist and vocalist, whose stylistic approach has ranged from rock & roll to pop standards and Latin music. His rock sound is exemplified in songs such as hi ...
had both been upstaged by
the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
and their fans on a 21-day UK tour. Late that year, Roe scored a Top 10
hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
with " Everybody", which reached US number 3 and UK number 9, and "
The Folk Singer "The Folk Singer" is a folk song, written by Charles E. Daniels and American musician Johnny Cash and first recorded by Cash in 1968. It is also known as "Folk Singer" or, less often, "The Singer". Allegedly about American pop singer Tommy Roe ...
" (number 4 UK) written by
Merle Kilgore Wyatt Merle Kilgore (August 9, 1934 – February 6, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, and manager. Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, he was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the time of his death, he was the personal manager of Hank Wil ...
was also popular. Following a more successful tour of the United Kingdom by his friend
Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...
, Roe toured there and then moved to England where he lived for several years. In 1964, Roe recorded a song written by Buzz Cason entitled "Diane From Manchester Square", about a girl who worked at EMI House when it was based in London's Manchester Square. Sales of this single in the UK were poor, and it failed to chart. During the 1960s, he had several more Top 40 hits, including 1966's number 8 "
Sweet Pea The sweet pea, ''Lathyrus odoratus'', is a flowering plant in the genus ''Lathyrus'' in the family (biology), family Fabaceae (legumes), native plant, native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands. It is an annual plant, annual climbi ...
" (number 1 Canada) and number 6 " Hooray for Hazel" (number 2 Canada). In 1969, his song " Dizzy" went to number 1 on the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
, number 1 in Canada, as well as number 1 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. This
transatlantic Transatlantic, Trans-Atlantic or TransAtlantic may refer to: Film * Transatlantic Pictures, a film production company from 1948 to 1950 * Transatlantic Enterprises, an American production company in the late 1970s * ''Transatlantic'' (1931 film) ...
chart-topper sold two million copies by mid-April 1969, giving him his third gold disc award. Roe guest-starred in an episode of the American sitcom ''
Green Acres ''Green Acres'' is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to ''Petticoat Junction'', the series was first broadcast on ...
'', titled "The Four of Spades", airing on November 8, 1969. His final Top 10 single, a track co-written with
Freddy Weller Wilton Frederick "Freddy" Weller (born September 9, 1947) is an American country music artist. He recorded for Columbia Records between 1969 and 1980. He had his highest charted single in 1969 with his debut release, "Games People Play". Mus ...
, titled " Jam Up and Jelly Tight", became his fourth gold record, peaking at number 8 in the U.S. and number 5 in Canada in 1970. Although his style of music declined in popularity with the 1970s mass market, Roe maintained a following and continued to perform at a variety of concert venues, sometimes with 1960s nostalgia rock and rollers such as Freddy Cannon and
Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline (April 30, 1943 – October 24, 2016), known professionally as Bobby Vee, was an American singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s and also appeared in films. According to '' Billboard'' magazine, he had thirty-e ...
. He recorded numerous singles in the late 1970s and 1980s aimed at the country music market. In 1986, Roe was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame The Rockabilly Hall of Fame is an organization and website launched on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relating to the artists and personalities involved in rockabilly. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennesse ...
. Roe's autobiography, originally published in 2016, named ''From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown and places in between'', was co-written with Michael Robert Krikorian. On February 7, 2018, Roe officially announced his retirement on his Facebook page with this statement: On June 25, 2019, ''The New York Times Magazine'' listed Tommy Roe among hundreds of artists whose material reportedly was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.


Personal life

A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, and Beverly Hills, California, he was married to actress
Josette Banzet Josette Banzet, Marquise de Bruyenne (April 6, 1938 – December 4, 2020) was an American-based actress. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in '' Rich Man, P ...
until her death in 2020. He has a daughter named Cynthia, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who all live in Georgia.


Discography

* ''Sheila'' (1962) * ''Everybody Likes Tommy Roe (1963) * ''Something for Everybody'' (1964) * ''Sweet Pea'' (1966) * ''Phantasy'' (1967) * ''It's Now Winter's Day'' (1967) * ''Heather Honey'' (1969) * ''Dizzy'' (1969) * ''We Can Make Music'' (1970) * ''Beginnings'' (1971) * ''Energy'' (1976) * ''Full Bloom'' (1977) * ''Devil's Soul Pie'' (2012) * ''Confectioner's'' (2017)


Legacy

*
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
' bootleg album ''
Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962 Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films *Live! (2007 film), ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film *Live (2014 film), ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *''Live (Apocalyptica DVD), ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *L ...
'', which was recorded (in very low fidelity) in Hamburg in 1962, shortly before they became an international phenomenon, included a version of "Sheila". *"Sweet Pea" is sampled in the song "Lyte As A Rock", appearing on the 1988 album ''Lyte As A Rock'' by American rapper
MC Lyte Lana Michele Moorer (born October 11, 1970), better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper, DJ, actress and entrepreneur. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first ...
. *In 1991,
The Wonder Stuff The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band. Originally based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England, the band's first lineup released four albums and nearly 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live success in the ...
and
Vic Reeves James Roderick Moir (born 24 January 1959), better known by his stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, artist, surrealist, musician, actor and television presenter, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer as Reeves & Mortimer. ...
released a cover of "Dizzy" that topped the UK Singles Chart.


See also

*
List of artists who reached number one in the United States This is a list of recording artists who have reached number one on '' Billboard'' magazine's weekly singles chart(s). This list spans from the issue dated January 1, 1955 to the present. Prior to the creation of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, ''Bil ...
*
List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart This is a list of artists who have reached number one on the UK Singles Chart as recorded by the Official Charts Company. Artists are listed alphabetically, solo artists are listed by surname and groups are listed by full names excluding "the" o ...
*
List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand List of acts who appeared on the television show '' American Bandstand''. __NOTOC__ 0-9 *The 13th Floor Elevators *1910 Fruitgum Company * 20/20 * The 5th Dimension * 9.9 A *a-ha *Willie Aames *ABBA * Gregory Abbott *ABC *Adam and the Ants * ...
*
List of performers on Top of the Pops __NOTOC__ This list of performers on ''Top of the Pops'' includes popular music recording artists and musical ensembles who have performed on ''Top of the Pops'', a weekly BBC television programme that featured artists from the UK Singles Ch ...
*
The History of Rock & Roll ''The History of Rock & Roll'' is an American radio documentary on rock and roll music, first syndicated in 1969. Originally one of the lengthiest documentaries of any medium (48 hours in the 1969 version, 52 hours each for the 1978 and 1981 vers ...
*
Where the Action Is ''Where the Action Is'' is a music-based television variety show that aired in the United States from 1965 to 1967. It was carried by the ABC network and aired each weekday afternoon. Created by Dick Clark as a spin-off of '' American Bandstan ...
*
List of people from Georgia (U.S. state) This is a list of notable people born in, or notable for their association with the U.S. state of Georgia. __NOTOC__ Notable Georgians 0–9 * 2 Chainz, rapper * 21 Savage; born in London, rapper A * Quinton Aaron, actor; born in New York ...


References


External links


Official website





Tommy Roe Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2017) {{DEFAULTSORT:Roe, Tommy 1942 births Living people American expatriates in the United Kingdom American male pop singers American male singer-songwriters Writers from Atlanta Musicians from Atlanta ABC Records artists MGM Records artists Monument Records artists Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)