Tommy Roe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Roe
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Roe in 1970
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas David Roe |
| Born | May 9, 1942 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1959–2018, 2022–present |
| Labels | Judd Records, ABC Paramount Records, Monument Records, MGM Records, His Master's Voice |
Thomas David Roe (born May 9, 1942) is an American singer and songwriter. He is famous for his rock and pop songs.
Tommy Roe is best known for his hit songs like "Sheila" (1962), "Sweet Pea" (1966), and "Dizzy" (1969). Many people see him as a classic "bubblegum pop" artist from the late 1960s. But he also made some great rock songs, especially when he first started.
Contents
Tommy Roe's Early Life and Music
Growing Up in Georgia
Tommy Roe was born and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. He went to Brown High School. After finishing school, he got a job at General Electric. He worked there soldering wires.
How "Sheila" Became a Hit
Tommy Roe first recorded his song "Sheila" in 1960. He recorded it for a record label called Judd. Tommy wrote the song as a poem for a girl he liked in high school. Her name was Freda. The record label owner liked the song but wanted to change the title. Tommy's aunt, Sheila, was visiting that weekend, and the rest is history!
The first version of "Sheila" was simpler. It had Tommy's singing, a band, and backup singers. It was popular in his local area but not across the country.
In 1962, Tommy recorded "Sheila" again for ABC-Paramount Records. This new version had a catchy drum beat. It sounded a bit like the 1957 hit song "Peggy Sue". Tommy's slight Southern accent and his singing style reminded people of Buddy Holly.
Tommy said this was on purpose. His producer wanted to fill the gap left by Buddy Holly. They thought many Buddy Holly fans would like Tommy's sound. The new "Sheila" became a number one hit in the U.S. and Australia in 1962. It sold so many copies that it earned a "gold record" award in 1969.
When "Sheila" became a hit, Tommy's record company asked him to go on tour. He was not sure about leaving his job at General Electric. But the company gave him $5,000, and he decided to go.
Tommy Roe's Music Career Highlights
Touring and More Hits
In March 1963, a UK music magazine reported that Tommy Roe and another singer, Chris Montez, were on tour in the UK. They were joined by the Beatles, who were becoming very popular.
Later in 1963, Tommy had another top 10 hit called "Everybody". It reached number 3 in the U.S. and number 9 in the UK. His song "The Folk Singer" was also very popular in the UK.
After a successful tour by his friend Roy Orbison, Tommy Roe also toured the UK. He then moved to England and lived there for several years. In the 1960s, he had more top 40 hits. These included "Sweet Pea" in 1966, which reached number 8 in the U.S. and number 1 in Canada. Another hit was "Hooray for Hazel", which reached number 6 in the U.S. and number 2 in Canada.
"Dizzy" and Later Success
In 1969, Tommy's song "Dizzy" became a huge hit. It reached number 1 in the U.S., the UK, and Canada. This song sold two million copies by April 1969. It was his third song to earn a gold record award.
Tommy Roe also appeared on a TV show called Green Acres. He was a guest star in an episode that aired in November 1969.
His last top 10 song was "Jam Up and Jelly Tight". He wrote this song with Freddy Weller. It became his fourth gold record. It reached number 8 in the U.S. and number 5 in Canada in 1970.
Later Career and Recognition
As music styles changed in the 1970s, Tommy Roe's type of music became less popular with many people. However, he still had many fans. He continued to perform at concerts, sometimes with other rock and roll artists from the 1960s. He also recorded many songs in the late 1970s and 1980s that were aimed at the country music market.
In 1986, Tommy Roe was honored. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His important contributions to music have also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Tommy Roe wrote a book about his life. It is called From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown and places in between. He wrote it with Michael Robert Krikorian.
Tommy Roe's Retirement and Return
Announcing Retirement
On February 7, 2018, Tommy Roe announced on his Facebook page that he was retiring. He said he had many great memories of his music and his fans. He thanked his fans for supporting him for 55 years. He hoped his music would continue to bring joy to people. He said he would stay in touch through Facebook but would stop doing concerts and interviews.
A Return to Music
However, on May 2, 2022, Tommy Roe released a new song called "80". He released it to celebrate his 80th birthday. He also appeared on several podcasts in 2022 and 2023. He talked about his music career on these shows.
On January 5, 2023, Tommy Roe released a new album. It is called From Here to Here. He released it on an independent record label. In an interview in February 2023, Tommy Roe confirmed he was back to making music. He said he loves doing it and it is part of who he is. He plans to continue as long as he can. On April 16, 2023, he announced new concert dates. These were his first live shows since his retirement announcement in 2018.
Tommy Roe's Personal Life
Tommy Roe lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Beverly Hills, California. He was married to actress Josette Banzet. She passed away in 2020.
Tommy Roe's Albums
- 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 Pile (2012)
- Confectioner's (2017)
- From Here to Here (2023)
Tommy Roe's Legacy
- The Beatles recorded a version of "Sheila" in 1962. This was shortly before they became famous around the world.
- The song "Sweet Pea" was used in a song called "Lyte As A Rock". This song was by the American rapper MC Lyte in 1988.
- In 1991, the band The Wonder Stuff and Vic Reeves released their own version of "Dizzy". It became a number one hit in the UK.
See also
In Spanish: Tommy Roe para niños
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- The History of Rock & Roll
- Where the Action Is
- List of people from Georgia (U.S. state)
