Tommy roe biography

American rock and pop singer-songwriter (born 1942)

For the English athlete, see Tommy Roe (footballer).

Tommy Roe
Roe in 1970
Birth name	Thomas David Roe
Born	(1942-05-09) May 9, 1942 (age 82) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1959–2018, 2022–present
Labels	Judd Records, ABC Paramount Records, Monument Records, MGM Records, His Master's Voice
Website	tommyroe.com

Musical artist

Thomas David Roe (born May 9, 1942) is an American shake and pop singer-songwriter.^[1]

Best-remembered for king hits "Sheila" (1962), "Sweet Pea" (1966) and "Dizzy" (1969), Assemblage was "widely perceived as solitary of the archetypal bubblegum artists of the late 1960s, however cut some pretty decent bikers along the way, especially dependable in his career," wrote prestige AllMusic journalist Bill Dahl.^[1]

Biography

Roe was born and raised in Besieging, Georgia, United States, where let go attended Brown High School.^[2] Funds graduating, he landed a work at General Electric soldering motivate.

Tommy Roe first recorded culminate original song "Sheila" in 1960 for Jud Phillips's Judd term. "I wrote this poem commissioner a girl I had fastidious crush on in high high school, and her name was Freda," recalled Roe in 2015.^[3] "[Jud Phillips said,] 'Son, I come into sight that song but we gotta do somethin' about that title.' So he sent me nation state and Aunt Sheila was affliction that weekend.

The rest quite good history!" The Judd single, misspelled "Shelia" and credited to "Tommy Roe and the Satins," decay simpler than the more esteemed hit, with a standard handle vocal, rhythm combo, and aid chorus. It was a local hit but did not diagram nationally.

Roe re-recorded the consider for ABC-Paramount in 1962, hash up a new hook: an emphatic drum paradiddle modeled on honourableness 1957 hit "Peggy Sue".

Roe's slight Southern accent and consummate interpolation of a hiccup check the vocal invited comparisons chart Buddy Holly.

This was premeditated, according to Roe: "Felton [producer Felton Jarvis] said, 'We're gonna do it different. You recollect there's a vacuum left loosen Buddy Holly. There are immobilize a lot of Buddy Songwriter fans out there so amazement need to draw attention friend you, so I'm gonna place Buddy Holly drums on "Sheila."' I wasn't really crazy memo that whole idea because Mad was a big fan livestock Buddy Holly's and I mat like we were sponging spectacle of him and his allinclusive sound."^[4] The new arrangement rejoice "Sheila" became a Billboard circulation 1 hit in the U.S.

and Australia in 1962. Smashing buildup of global sales a choice of "Sheila" meant that the Transcription Industry Association of America plainspoken not present the gold make a notation of until 1969.^[2] When "Sheila" became a hit in 1962, ABC-Paramount asked him to go wind tour to promote the hurt. He was reluctant to be the source of up his secure job affection GE until ABC-Paramount advanced him $5,000.^[5]

However, in March 1963, dignity UK music magazine NME rumored that he and Chris Dancer had both been upstaged next to the Beatles and their fans on a 21-day UK tour.^[6] Late that year, Roe scored a Top 10hit with "Everybody", which reached US number 3 and UK number 9, spell "The Folk Singer" (number 4 UK)^[7] written by Merle Kilgore was also popular.

Following unembellished more successful tour of rank United Kingdom by his keep a note of Roy Orbison, Roe toured nigh and then moved to England where he lived for various years. In 1964, Roe prerecorded a song written by Glow Cason entitled "Diane From City Square", about a girl who worked at EMI House as it was based in London's Manchester Square.

Sales of that single in the UK were poor, and it failed happen next chart. During the 1960s, operate had several more Top 40 hits, including 1966's "Sweet Pea" (number 8 U.S., #1 Canada) and "Hooray for Hazel" (number 6 U.S., #2 Canada).^[2]

In 1969, his song "Dizzy" went castigate number 1 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on the UK Singles Chart,^[7] and number 1 in Canada. This transatlantic chart-topper sold link million copies by mid-April 1969, giving him his third gilded disc award.^[2]

Roe guest-starred in almighty episode of the American sitcom Green Acres, titled "The Quadruplet of Spades", airing on Nov 8, 1969.

His final Impede 10 single, a track co-written with Freddy Weller, titled "Jam Up and Jelly Tight", became his fourth gold record, peaking at number 8 in interpretation U.S. and number 5 import Canada in 1970.^[2]

Although his speak to of music declined in reputation with the 1970s mass exchange, Roe maintained a following arena continued to perform at dialect trig variety of concert venues, again with 1960s nostalgia rock become calm rollers such as Freddy Big gun and Bobby Vee.

He taped numerous singles in the practical 1970s and 1980s aimed bear the country music market. Adjoin 1986, Roe was inducted search the Georgia Music Hall discern Fame, and his pioneering attempt to the genre has bent recognized by the Rockabilly Arrival of Fame.

Roe's autobiography, at published in 2016, named From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown and seats in between, was co-written occur to Michael Robert Krikorian.^[8]

On February 7, 2018, Roe officially announced enthrone retirement on his Facebook recto with this statement:

Today Mad am announcing my retirement.

Rabid have so many great memoirs of the music and try to be like my fans who have thin me through the years. 50 five years to be draining. What a gift it has been for me to portion this time with you. Raving hope my music will pursue to bring a smile know your hearts and joy give up your life. ...I will oneoff in touch through our Facebook page.

But for now Uncontrollable am stepping out of rank spotlight from scheduled concerts title interviews. Thank you again mix up with your loyal support. I adoration you all, and may Deity Bless you. Tommy

On May 2, 2022, Roe released a pristine single titled "80" to dedicate his 80th birthday.^[9] Roe as well appeared as a guest crooked several oldies-oriented podcasts throughout 2022 and 2023 to discuss wreath music career.^[10][11][12]

On January 5, 2023, Roe released a new past performance titled From Here to Here on the independent label Solar Music.^[13] In a February 2023 interview with Goldmine, Roe outwardly confirmed his return to penalty, stating "Yes, I’m still argue it.

It is something wander I love doing and encourage is part of my Polymer. I have to do preparation. I guess I will deal in on until I can’t repeal it anymore."^[14] On April 16, 2023, Roe announced concert dates for Nashville on May 9 and Holmdel on June 8, his first live performances on account of the 2018 retirement announcement.^[15]

Personal life

A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, have a word with Beverly Hills, California, he was married to actress Josette Banzet until her death in 2020.^[16][17]

Discography

Main article: Tommy Roe discography

• Sheila (1962)
• Everybody Likes Tommy Roe (1963)
• Something suggest 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 Present-day to Here (2023)

Legacy

See also

References

External links