Tommy Tucker, born Robert Higgenbotham on March 5, 1933, in Springfield, Ohio, was an American blues singer and pianist. He began playing piano at age eight and joined the Bobby-Wood Orchestra in his teens, which later evolved into the Doo-Wop formation Cavaliers. In 1951, Tommy Tucker formed a house band with trumpeter Clarence LeVille at the Farm Dell Club in Dayton, Ohio, where they accompanied notable blues artists such as Big Maybelle and Billie Holiday. Throughout the mid-1950s, he frequently changed groups, including stints with The Belvaderes and The Dusters, releasing unsuccessful singles during this period. Tommy Tucker's breakthrough came with his composition "Hi Heel Sneakers", released in January 1964 on Checker Records. The song, featuring slide guitar work by Welton "Dean" Young, peaked at number 11 on the Pop charts and became a Mods anthem, with over 200 cover versions recorded. His follow-up single "Long Tall Shorty", released in May 1964, was less successful but covered by The Kinks. Despite subsequent releases like "That’s Life" (1966) and albums such as Mother Tucker (2006) and The Rocks Is My Pillow, the Cold Ground Is My Bed (2006), Tommy Tucker's later career saw limited success. He died on January 22, 1982, from inhaling toxic fumes.
