The Tams, an American vocal group from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1960 and took their name from the Tam o'shanter hats they wore on stage. The group initially gained traction with their hit single "Untie Me" in 1962, a Joe South composition that reached the top 20 in the Billboard R&B chart. Their breakthrough came in 1964 with "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)", which peaked at Number 1 on the Cash Box R&B chart and reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Tams continued to release notable albums such as Presenting (1964), Time for the Tams (1967), and Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy (1970). A re-issue of the song "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" became a UK Number 1 in September 1971. The group's popularity extended into the 1980s with regional hits like "There Ain't Nothing Like Shaggin'", which reached number 21 on the UK charts in 1987. The Tams continued to perform and record, collaborating with Jimmy Buffett on his CD Beach House on the Moon in 1999. Notable members included Robert Lee Smith, Horace Key, Charles Pope, Joseph Pope, Floyd Ashton, and Albert "Little Red" Cottle Jr., who led the group in later years. The Tams' enduring influence is marked by their continued performances and well-attended concerts, particularly in the Southeastern United States.
