Tommy & the Tom Toms
Encyclopedia
Tommy & The Tom Toms first started with two guitars and drums, Eddie Wayne Hill on lead guitar, Leonard Walters on rhythm guitar and Joel Colbert on drums. The three fledgling musicians from Arlington
, Texas began jamming in an old barn in 1959 and evolved to playing around town for private parties. This exposure led to regular Friday night appearances at a small, local lounge. Bass guitarist David (Dave) Martin joined the group a few months later. The owner of the Guthrey Club in Dallas heard the band and hired them for an indefinite engagement. At Guthrey’s, one of the largest rhythm and blues clubs in city, the band completed their personnel by adding Joe Donnell on sax and Tommy Brown as vocalist. The band was now complete and decided to change their name to Tommy & The Tom Toms. They soon became one of the top, and most imitated, dance bands in the DFW area and recorded numerous singles for noted Fort Worth producer Major Bill Smith.
One of their best-selling records was an instrumental version of “Heartbreak Hotel
” issued by Chess Records
(#1773) http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/chess.htm in 1960 under the pseudonym of the Bill Smith Combo http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/s/smit1600.htm. More Tom Toms recordings were soon released, including “Raunchy
”/”Loco” issued by Chess (#1780) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Ptomaine”/”Snookie” issued by LeBill (#306) as the Bill Smith Combo, "Ptomaine"/"Heartbreak Hotel" issued by Sparton Records
Canada (#4-857) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Anastasia”/”Tough” issued by LeBill (#303) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Souix”/”Are You Lonesome Tonight
” issued by LeCamp (#1900) as Mr. Saks & The Blue Strings, “Tomahawk”/“Kentucky Waltz” issued by Jaro International (#77023) as Tom Brown and The Tom Toms, “Tippin’ In”/”Saints” issued by Duncan (#1003) as Tommy And The Tom Toms, “That Cat”/”Tell Me” issued by K&B (#101) as Tommy Brown, “Corsicana”/”The Den” issued by Rodeo Canada (#247) as The Tom Toms and "The Waltz You Saved For Me"/"Big Blue Diamonds" issued by Maridene (#106) as Gene Summers
& Platinum Fog. During this time frame they also backed up Freddy Fender
on his Argo release “A Man Can Cry” b/w “You’re Something Else For Me” (Argo #5375) plus several other Freddy Fender
recordings including the much later Fender release of “Since I Met You Baby
”.
After a successful years’ stay at Guthrey’s, the club owner, K.K. Hayles, signed the band to a personal management contract. For the next year the band backed-up numerous recording stars including Roy Orbison
, Jimmy Reed
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, Mark Denning, Jack Scott, Big Joe Turner
, Bobby Hendricks
, Gene Summers
, Skip & Flip
, Freddy Fender
, Scotty McKay http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/l/lips5000.htm, The Carlos Brothers, Chuck Berry
, The Original Drifters and once staged a battle of the bands with The Champs
of “Tequila” fame. Due to the popularity of their recording of “Heartbreak Hotel
” they officially changed the band’s name to the Bill Smith Combo http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/s/smit1600.htm in 1960.
and the Tom Toms, now without a singer/frontman for the band
, turned their attention to rockabilly
entertainer Gene Summers
. Summers, who was still hot from two regional hits "Straight Skirt
"/"School Of Rock 'n Roll
", (Jan #11-100) and "Nervous
"/"Gotta Lotta That
" (Jan #102), was playing in east Dallas at the 1-2-3 Club with his new group of Rebels which included lead guitarist and original Rebel James McClung, bass player
Jack Castleberry, drummer
Charlie Mendias and Codine Craft on piano
. When Craft married and left the band, she was replaced by pianist
/frontman C.W. Kendall formerly of the Big Beats - "Clark’s Expedition" (Columbia
#41072) and "The Big Beats Live At The Off-Broadway" an LP issued by Liberty Records
(#LRP-3407).
This provided the opportunity for Summers to exit the Rebels and in April, 1961 a new group emerged on the DFW
club scene known as Gene Summers and the Tom Toms. One of the first performances of this newly formed alliance was on a bill in Fort Worth, Texas
at Jimmy Levin’s Skyliner Ballroom with legendary bluesman Elmore James
. (It should be noted here that before becoming a musical unit, Summers and the Tom Toms had booked studio time in late 1960 at The Clifford Herring Studios in Fort Worth where they recorded three songs. The first title was guitarist
Eddie Hill’s “Taboo” (Lake County LP-504/Born Bad LP-BB107), “Tomorrow” (Alta Records
) #104) and an original instrumental titled “Loco Cat” (Collector LP/CD-4420).
By May, 1961, Gene and the Tom Toms were touring the USA with the Chuck Berry
show. The lineup also included Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters (Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher and Gerhart Thrasher) plus Bobby Hendricks
of "Itchie Twitchie Feeling" fame (Sue #706). The group toured most of 1961 but by the end of that year the break-up had begun. Eddie Hill and Joel Colbert wanted to form a new band so they left the Tom Toms and departed for Lubbock, Texas
. It was while he was returning to Dallas in early 1962 that Eddie Wayne Hill and one of his new band members, Donny LaGrone, were killed when their convertible
collided head-on with a gravel truck on state highway 114 south of Decatur, Texas
.
Meanwhile, back in Dallas, Summers and bass player
David A. Martin
were revamping the Tom Toms who were now the house band
at the Guthrey Club. Gene’s former drummer
from the 1-2-3 Club, Charlie Mendias, joined the group. Also, James McClung, the original Rebels guitar player
, became a Tom Tom. McClung had previously written Gene’s rockabilly
classic "School Of Rock 'n Roll
", (Jan #11-101). Also recruited were guitarist
Glenn Keener and sax
player Melvin Robinson. Robinson, formerly an original member of Sid King and the Five Strings, only played with the group through mid-July and was replaced by Jesse Lopez, the younger brother of soon-to-be-star, Trini Lopez
.
The Tom Toms remained intact throughout most of 1962 with only a couple of changes in personnel. During early October, that year, David Martin left for Memphis
with singer/organist
Sam Samudio. Sam had been playing in Dallas at Jack’s Blue Room which was just up the street from the Guthrey Club on Industrial Boulevard. Sam and David formed the group Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs and, as they say, "the rest is history". Gene's former bass player
, Jack Castleberry from the 1-2-3 Club, replaced Martin in the Tom Toms.
Lead guitar
player Glenn Kenner also left the Tom Toms about six weeks later to join a banjo
group called Freddy Powers and the Powerhouse 1V. In July, 1962, the Powerhouse 1V had been discovered by Hugh Downs
of the "Today Show" and had appeared twice on his program. Keener joined the group in late 1962 just in time to appear on their Warner Bros. Records
album "The Good Life!" (WBLP-1488) which was released in early 1963. Keener eventually ended up in Nashville
as a record producer
for Opryland Records and then Mercury Records
-Phonogram
. Keener holds the distinction of being the first to sign/record Reba McEntire
for a major label deal (see "Reba:My Story" Bantam Books
, pages 56–57).
With the defection
of Martin and Keener, Summers again, re-organized the Tom Toms. The new lineup now included James McClung-lead guitar
, Jack Castleberry-bass
, Charlie Mendias-drums
and Jesse Lopez-sax
. The rhythm section
was augmented with the addition of organ
player Harry “Good Times” Jackson. Jackson was replaced a short time later by keyboard
player Bobby Charles (Shumate), who also doubled on saxophone
. By early 1963 Bobby Charles had left the group and was replaced by organ
player Ernest Walker. Jesse Lopez , who was still in high school
, dropped-out of the band and was replaced by sax
player C.B. Williams. This became the final musical lineup for Gene Summers and the Tom Toms. The band now included Summers, McClung, Mendias, Castleberry, Walker and Williams. This was the group that went into the Clifford Herring Recording Studio
, in Fort Worth, Texas
, on Thursday, March 28, 1963 and recorded Gene's breakthrough single "Big Blue Diamonds" (Donnybrook Records #556/Capri Records
#502/Jamie Records
#1273). An instrumental version of "Peanut Butter" (Shane #47-2) was also recorded at this session. In June, 1964, they would return to the Summit Sound Studio
s in Dallas to record the Summers rockabilly classic "Alabama Shake" (Capri #507), a song composed
by James McClung in 1958. They also cut Lloyd Price
’s "Just Because" (Capri #507) plus "The Great Pretender
" (Crystal Clear CD CCR 9723-2) at this session.
The Tom Toms continued to make great music through the first part of 1965 playing, primarily, at the Guthrey Club in Dallas at Corinth and Industrial, which was now owned by James and Billie Thompson. But like most good things, it all came to an end. For a variety of personal and professional reasons, the Tom Toms were no more.
Gene Summers
has continued to record and perform in clubs and worldwide tours into the 21st century. In 1997 Gene became the 29th artist to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame. He was also inducted into The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
in 2005. Summers was presented his HOF
certificate in Hollywood, California by air personality John Rhys on October 29, 2005. In February, 2008, he celebrated 50 years as a recording artist with the release of a new studio album
"Reminisce Cafe
" (Seduction
SCD-110).
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, Texas began jamming in an old barn in 1959 and evolved to playing around town for private parties. This exposure led to regular Friday night appearances at a small, local lounge. Bass guitarist David (Dave) Martin joined the group a few months later. The owner of the Guthrey Club in Dallas heard the band and hired them for an indefinite engagement. At Guthrey’s, one of the largest rhythm and blues clubs in city, the band completed their personnel by adding Joe Donnell on sax and Tommy Brown as vocalist. The band was now complete and decided to change their name to Tommy & The Tom Toms. They soon became one of the top, and most imitated, dance bands in the DFW area and recorded numerous singles for noted Fort Worth producer Major Bill Smith.
One of their best-selling records was an instrumental version of “Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
” issued by Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
(#1773) http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/chess.htm in 1960 under the pseudonym of the Bill Smith Combo http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/s/smit1600.htm. More Tom Toms recordings were soon released, including “Raunchy
Raunchy (song)
"Raunchy" is the name of an American rock and roll instrumental hit from 1957. It was recorded by Bill Justis and his band in Memphis, Tennessee, and co-written by Justis and Sid Manker....
”/”Loco” issued by Chess (#1780) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Ptomaine”/”Snookie” issued by LeBill (#306) as the Bill Smith Combo, "Ptomaine"/"Heartbreak Hotel" issued by Sparton Records
Sparton Records
Sparton Records was a Canadian record company which was based in London, Ontario.Sparton Records was founded in 1930 by the American electronics company Sparks-Withington Corp., of Jackson, Michigan, which made Sparton radios. It manufactured and distributed Columbia Records in Canada from 1939 to...
Canada (#4-857) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Anastasia”/”Tough” issued by LeBill (#303) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Souix”/”Are You Lonesome Tonight
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
” issued by LeCamp (#1900) as Mr. Saks & The Blue Strings, “Tomahawk”/“Kentucky Waltz” issued by Jaro International (#77023) as Tom Brown and The Tom Toms, “Tippin’ In”/”Saints” issued by Duncan (#1003) as Tommy And The Tom Toms, “That Cat”/”Tell Me” issued by K&B (#101) as Tommy Brown, “Corsicana”/”The Den” issued by Rodeo Canada (#247) as The Tom Toms and "The Waltz You Saved For Me"/"Big Blue Diamonds" issued by Maridene (#106) as Gene Summers
Gene Summers
Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
& Platinum Fog. During this time frame they also backed up Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
on his Argo release “A Man Can Cry” b/w “You’re Something Else For Me” (Argo #5375) plus several other Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
recordings including the much later Fender release of “Since I Met You Baby
Since I Met You Baby (song)
"Since I Met You Baby" is an American rhythm and blues song written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter. The song, which Hunter recorded in 1956, became an American standard, and saw renewed popularity in 1969 when country music artist Sonny James released his hit version.-Song...
”.
After a successful years’ stay at Guthrey’s, the club owner, K.K. Hayles, signed the band to a personal management contract. For the next year the band backed-up numerous recording stars including Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Mark Denning, Jack Scott, Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and...
, Bobby Hendricks
Bobby Hendricks
Bobby Hendricks is an American R&B singer who charted two hits in the late 1950s. However, before embarking on a solo career, Bobby Hendricks was a member of The Swallows and recorded with The Flyers before becoming a successful solo act...
, Gene Summers
Gene Summers
Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
, Skip & Flip
Skip & Flip
Skip & Flip was a U.S. pop duo, consisting of Skip Battin and Flip aka Gary S...
, Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Scotty McKay http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/l/lips5000.htm, The Carlos Brothers, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, The Original Drifters and once staged a battle of the bands with The Champs
The Champs
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to...
of “Tequila” fame. Due to the popularity of their recording of “Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...
” they officially changed the band’s name to the Bill Smith Combo http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/s/smit1600.htm in 1960.
Part Two: "Exit Tommy Brown - Enter Gene Summers"
Shortly after this fruitful musical period, Tommy Brown and the Tom Toms aka Bill Smith Combo decided to go their separate ways. Tommy returned to his home state of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and the Tom Toms, now without a singer/frontman for the band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, turned their attention to rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
entertainer Gene Summers
Gene Summers
Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
. Summers, who was still hot from two regional hits "Straight Skirt
Straight Skirt
"Straight Skirt " is a song written by Mary Tarver in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100. On March 8, 1958 Cash...
"/"School Of Rock 'n Roll
School of Rock 'n Roll
"School Of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100...
", (Jan #11-100) and "Nervous
Nervous (song)
"Nervous" is a rockabilly/doo-wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and later covered by Robert Gordon and Link Wray, among others. It was composed by Mary Tarver in 1957, published by Ted Music, BMI and issued on Jan/Jane Records...
"/"Gotta Lotta That
Gotta Lotta That
"Gotta Lotta That" is a song written by Bernice Bedwell in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI. It was first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 and issued by Jan/Jane Records...
" (Jan #102), was playing in east Dallas at the 1-2-3 Club with his new group of Rebels which included lead guitarist and original Rebel James McClung, bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jack Castleberry, drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Charlie Mendias and Codine Craft on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. When Craft married and left the band, she was replaced by pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
/frontman C.W. Kendall formerly of the Big Beats - "Clark’s Expedition" (Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
#41072) and "The Big Beats Live At The Off-Broadway" an LP issued by Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
(#LRP-3407).
This provided the opportunity for Summers to exit the Rebels and in April, 1961 a new group emerged on the DFW
Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
club scene known as Gene Summers and the Tom Toms. One of the first performances of this newly formed alliance was on a bill in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
at Jimmy Levin’s Skyliner Ballroom with legendary bluesman Elmore James
Elmore James
Elmore James was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader. He was known as "the King of the Slide Guitar" and had a unique guitar style, noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice.-Biography:James was born Elmore Brooks in the old Richland community in...
. (It should be noted here that before becoming a musical unit, Summers and the Tom Toms had booked studio time in late 1960 at The Clifford Herring Studios in Fort Worth where they recorded three songs. The first title was guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Eddie Hill’s “Taboo” (Lake County LP-504/Born Bad LP-BB107), “Tomorrow” (Alta Records
Alta Records
Alta Records was a record label founded in Dallas, Texas in the early 1960s by pioneer, radio personality Jim Lowe. Lowe was a popular DJ who hosted a rhythm and blues program "Kat's Karavan" from the WRR-AM studios located at Fair Park in Dallas. He was one of the first DJs in the Southwest to...
) #104) and an original instrumental titled “Loco Cat” (Collector LP/CD-4420).
By May, 1961, Gene and the Tom Toms were touring the USA with the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
show. The lineup also included Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters (Bill Pinkney, Andrew Thrasher and Gerhart Thrasher) plus Bobby Hendricks
Bobby Hendricks
Bobby Hendricks is an American R&B singer who charted two hits in the late 1950s. However, before embarking on a solo career, Bobby Hendricks was a member of The Swallows and recorded with The Flyers before becoming a successful solo act...
of "Itchie Twitchie Feeling" fame (Sue #706). The group toured most of 1961 but by the end of that year the break-up had begun. Eddie Hill and Joel Colbert wanted to form a new band so they left the Tom Toms and departed for Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. It was while he was returning to Dallas in early 1962 that Eddie Wayne Hill and one of his new band members, Donny LaGrone, were killed when their convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
collided head-on with a gravel truck on state highway 114 south of Decatur, Texas
Decatur, Texas
Decatur is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. This city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr. The population was 5,201 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 6,432. It is the county seat of Wise County...
.
Meanwhile, back in Dallas, Summers and bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
David A. Martin
David A. Martin
David A. Martin was a founding member and original bass player for the rock group Sam the Sham, and recorded all their early hits on MGM Records. Martin also co-wrote the group's #1 hit "Wooly Bully" which sold over three million records...
were revamping the Tom Toms who were now the house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
at the Guthrey Club. Gene’s former drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
from the 1-2-3 Club, Charlie Mendias, joined the group. Also, James McClung, the original Rebels guitar player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
, became a Tom Tom. McClung had previously written Gene’s rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
classic "School Of Rock 'n Roll
School of Rock 'n Roll
"School Of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100...
", (Jan #11-101). Also recruited were guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Glenn Keener and sax
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player Melvin Robinson. Robinson, formerly an original member of Sid King and the Five Strings, only played with the group through mid-July and was replaced by Jesse Lopez, the younger brother of soon-to-be-star, Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...
.
The Tom Toms remained intact throughout most of 1962 with only a couple of changes in personnel. During early October, that year, David Martin left for Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
with singer/organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Sam Samudio. Sam had been playing in Dallas at Jack’s Blue Room which was just up the street from the Guthrey Club on Industrial Boulevard. Sam and David formed the group Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs and, as they say, "the rest is history". Gene's former bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Jack Castleberry from the 1-2-3 Club, replaced Martin in the Tom Toms.
Lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
player Glenn Kenner also left the Tom Toms about six weeks later to join a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
group called Freddy Powers and the Powerhouse 1V. In July, 1962, the Powerhouse 1V had been discovered by Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs
Hugh Malcolm Downs is a long time American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer; and is perhaps best known for his role as co-host the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and...
of the "Today Show" and had appeared twice on his program. Keener joined the group in late 1962 just in time to appear on their Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
album "The Good Life!" (WBLP-1488) which was released in early 1963. Keener eventually ended up in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
as a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Opryland Records and then Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
-Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
. Keener holds the distinction of being the first to sign/record Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
for a major label deal (see "Reba:My Story" Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
, pages 56–57).
With the defection
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
of Martin and Keener, Summers again, re-organized the Tom Toms. The new lineup now included James McClung-lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Jack Castleberry-bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Charlie Mendias-drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Jesse Lopez-sax
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. The rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
was augmented with the addition of organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
player Harry “Good Times” Jackson. Jackson was replaced a short time later by keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player Bobby Charles (Shumate), who also doubled on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. By early 1963 Bobby Charles had left the group and was replaced by organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
player Ernest Walker. Jesse Lopez , who was still in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, dropped-out of the band and was replaced by sax
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player C.B. Williams. This became the final musical lineup for Gene Summers and the Tom Toms. The band now included Summers, McClung, Mendias, Castleberry, Walker and Williams. This was the group that went into the Clifford Herring Recording Studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, on Thursday, March 28, 1963 and recorded Gene's breakthrough single "Big Blue Diamonds" (Donnybrook Records #556/Capri Records
Capri Records
Capri Records was a short-lived but influential rock and roll record label established in Conroe, Texas by Huey P Meaux and Foy Lee in the early 1960s...
#502/Jamie Records
Jamie Records
Jamie Records was a record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 by Harold Lipsius.Their first 45rpm single, "It's Great To Fall In Love"/"Truly" by Marian Caruso , was issued in 1957. However, they really hit the big-time in 1958 with the release of Duane Eddy's "Rebel...
#1273). An instrumental version of "Peanut Butter" (Shane #47-2) was also recorded at this session. In June, 1964, they would return to the Summit Sound Studio
Sound Studio
Sound Studio is multitrack audio recording software for Mac OS X. It was developed by Felt Tip Software. Sound Studio 3 was previously distributed by Freeverse.Now it is being distributed by .-External links:**...
s in Dallas to record the Summers rockabilly classic "Alabama Shake" (Capri #507), a song composed
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
by James McClung in 1958. They also cut Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price
Lloyd Price is an American R&B vocalist. Known as "Mr. Personality", after the name of one of his biggest million-selling hits...
’s "Just Because" (Capri #507) plus "The Great Pretender
The Great Pretender
"The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by The Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single on November 3, 1955. The words and music were created by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successful songwriter before moving into producing and...
" (Crystal Clear CD CCR 9723-2) at this session.
The Tom Toms continued to make great music through the first part of 1965 playing, primarily, at the Guthrey Club in Dallas at Corinth and Industrial, which was now owned by James and Billie Thompson. But like most good things, it all came to an end. For a variety of personal and professional reasons, the Tom Toms were no more.
Gene Summers
Gene Summers
Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
has continued to record and perform in clubs and worldwide tours into the 21st century. In 1997 Gene became the 29th artist to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame. He was also inducted into The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame
The Southern Legends Association along with its subsidiaries is a diversified non-profit entertainment company with operations in four business segments, Hall of Fame inductions, artist promotions, musical recordings and various entertainment operations. It was founded in 2005 by Widmarc Clark,...
in 2005. Summers was presented his HOF
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
certificate in Hollywood, California by air personality John Rhys on October 29, 2005. In February, 2008, he celebrated 50 years as a recording artist with the release of a new studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
"Reminisce Cafe
Reminisce Cafe
Reminisce Cafe is a landmark album by Gene Summers, released in 2008. It is his 50th anniversary Album issued by Seduction Records on February 1, 2008, exactly 50 years to the day of the release of his first hit single "School Of Rock 'n Roll"/ "Straight Skirt".-Track listing:# "Reminisce Cafe" –...
" (Seduction
Seduction
In social science, seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. The word seduction stems from Latin and means literally "to lead astray". As a result, the term may have a positive or negative connotation...
SCD-110).
External links
- [ Gene Summers & The Tom Toms biography]
- Gene Summers on YouTube
Sources
- "Reba: My Story: by Reba Mcentire (published by Bantam BooksBantam BooksBantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
, 1994 USA (pages 56–57). - Rockabilly: A Forty-Year Journey by Billy Poore (published by Hal Leonard 1998) USA
- The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002 by Andy Gregory (Published by Routledge 2002, USA)
- The Handbook Of Texas Online (c)Texas State Historical Association (published at The University Of Texas at Austin) 2007, USA (onlineONLINEONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
) - Official Price Guide To Records by Jerry Osborne (published by House of Collectibles) USA
- Chess Records Discography (online) USA
- Texas Music by Rick Koster (published by St. Martin’s Press USA 2000) USA
- Jamie RecordsJamie RecordsJamie Records was a record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 by Harold Lipsius.Their first 45rpm single, "It's Great To Fall In Love"/"Truly" by Marian Caruso , was issued in 1957. However, they really hit the big-time in 1958 with the release of Duane Eddy's "Rebel...
Discography (online) USA - Jubilee RecordsJubilee RecordsJubilee Records was a record label specializing in rhythm and blues along with novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. Jerry Blaine became Abramson's partner. Blaine bought out Abramson's half of the company in 1947. The company name was Jay-Gee Recording...
Artist Roster (online) USA - Charay Records Discography (online) USA
- Alta RecordsAlta RecordsAlta Records was a record label founded in Dallas, Texas in the early 1960s by pioneer, radio personality Jim Lowe. Lowe was a popular DJ who hosted a rhythm and blues program "Kat's Karavan" from the WRR-AM studios located at Fair Park in Dallas. He was one of the first DJs in the Southwest to...
Discography USA - W&G RecordsW&G RecordsW&G Records was an Australian recording company that operated from the early 1950s to the 1970s. It was a subsidiary of the Melbourne precision engineering company White & Gillespie....
artists AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... - Who’s Who In The South And Southwest (published by Marquis Who’s Who In America 1984-1985 Edition) USA
- Article and sessionography in issue 15 (1977) of New Kommotion Magazine UK
- Article and sessionography in issue 23 (1980) of New Kommotion Magazine UK
- Feature article and sessionography in issue 74 (1999) of Rockin' Fifties Magazine GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Feature article with photo spread in issue 53 (2000) of Bill Griggs' Rockin' 50s Magazine USA
- Feature Article with photo spread in issue 54 (2000) of Bill Griggs' Rockin' 50s Magazine USA
Historical Tom Toms facts
- Tommy Brown was the brother of country/rockabilly singer Billy Brown.
- Joe Donnell played saxophone for Trini LopezTrini LopezTrini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...
before joining the Tom Toms. - Tommy and the Tom Toms recorded an instrumental version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
" under the name Mr. Saks & The Blue Strings in 1960. - Joel Colbert formed The Top Beats in 1975 and owned/managed night clubs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
- Producer Major Bill Smith influenced the band to change their name to the Bill Smith Combo in 1960.
- Glenn Keener had a single issued in 1962 titled “Oil Break” b/w “Tracking” (AltaAlta RecordsAlta Records was a record label founded in Dallas, Texas in the early 1960s by pioneer, radio personality Jim Lowe. Lowe was a popular DJ who hosted a rhythm and blues program "Kat's Karavan" from the WRR-AM studios located at Fair Park in Dallas. He was one of the first DJs in the Southwest to...
#113). - Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters along with lead singer Bobby HendricksBobby HendricksBobby Hendricks is an American R&B singer who charted two hits in the late 1950s. However, before embarking on a solo career, Bobby Hendricks was a member of The Swallows and recorded with The Flyers before becoming a successful solo act...
, recorded a Glenn Keener song titled “My Picture” (Patience #100) issued in 1962 under the name of The Sprites. Gene SummersGene SummersGene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
recorded the first, original demo of this song in 1961 and released an alternate version in 1966 (Donnybrook #557). - Jack Castleberry and James McClung released a single in 1964 titled “Monkey’s Uncle” as Jac & Jay with the Tom Toms (Shane #47-1).
- Bobby Charles (Shumate) also recorded under the name of The Continentals "Blues In The NightBlues in the Night"Blues in the Night" is a popular song which has become a pop standard and is generally considered to be part of the Great American Songbook. The music was written by Harold Arlen, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for a 1941 film begun with the working title Hot Nocturne, but finally released as Blues...
" (Vandan #8068), "My Baby Was-Ah Nowhere"/"Kangaroo Hop" (Vandan #8454). His Continentals also toured with Roy OrbisonRoy OrbisonRoy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Fats DominoFats DominoAntoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
, The ChampsThe ChampsThe Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to...
, Jimmy ClantonJimmy ClantonJimmy Clanton is an American singer who became known as the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol". His band recorded a hit song "Just A Dream" which Clanton had written in 1958 for the Ace Records label. It reached number four on the Billboard chart and sold a million copies...
and Bobby BareBobby BareRobert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
in 1960-61. - After the Tom Toms, Charlie Mendias joined Hugh & The Mad Men who had recorded "Popcorn Pop Pop" (Shurfine #012) and toured extensively for several years.
- Jesse Lopez had a single issued in 1968 titled "Pretty Girls Everywhere/Little Bitty Pretty OneLittle Bitty Pretty One"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a rock and roll song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day, and popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957. His version reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It has most notably been covered by Frankie Lymon in 1958, Clyde McPhatter in 1962, the Jackson Five in...
/"Looking So Much Better" (Dot #17065), "Don't Make Me A Memory"/"Was It a Dream" (Bravo #1300), plus many other singles & album releases. Jesse is still playing, with his combo, on cruise ships. - James McClung moved to Colorado where he joined the Highway PatrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
and later became an ordained minister. He is now based in Washington State. At last account he was still receiving BMIBroadcast Music IncorporatedBroadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
royaltiesRoyaltiesRoyalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
for his compositionMusical compositionMusical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
s "School Of Rock 'n RollSchool of Rock 'n Roll"School Of Rock 'n Roll" is a song composed by James McClung in 1958 and published by Song Productions, BMI the same year. It was originally recorded by Gene Summers and his Rebels, a rockabilly band from Dallas, Texas and was first released in February, 1958 by Jan Records #11-100...
", "Alabama Shake" and "Fancy Dan". - After the Tom Toms, Ernest Walker toured with several R&BRhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
acts including Freddy King. He later became a gospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
preacher known as Rev. "Street" Walker. - Other musicians who were short-term members of the Tom Toms included Tommy Morrell (guitar), Dickie Sloan (organ) and Jackie Lassiter (drums).
- Tommy Morrell would later become recognized as one of the country's finest steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
players and released the ground-breaking albumAlbumAn album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
series "How The West Was Swung" on WR Records as Tom Morrell and the Timewarp Tophands. - Other notable vocalists who have officially fronted the Tom Toms, although briefly, include Freddy FenderFreddy FenderFreddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Scotty McKay and Joe Wilson. - Deceased members include Eddie Wayne Hill, David (Dave) Martin, Joe Donnell, Leonard Walters, Jack Castleberry, Scotty McKay, Freddy Fender, Tommy Morrell and Mel Robinson.