Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tommy James – born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio on April 29, 1947 – is best known for his string of hits with his band the Shondells: “Hanky Panky” (1966), “I Think We’re Alone Now” (1967), “Mony Mony” (1968), “Crimson and Clover” (1968), and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” (1969). Born in Ohio, he moved with his family to Niles, Michigan and by the time he was 12, he had already formed his first band, the Echoes. They eventually changed their name to Tom and the Tornadoes before finally settling on the Shondells. The band recorded a few songs at WNIL Studios including “Hanky Panky,” which was released as a single in 1964. The song was a local hit, but the label could not afford national promotion and it was quickly forgotten. However, a used copy of the single was purchased by promoter Bob Mack, who began playing it in his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania dance clubs in 1965. The song became popular, and a local bootlegger pressed up copies of the single, selling roughly 80,000 copies in under two weeks. The song became a hit in Pittsburgh, which led to Tommy James and the Shondells being at the center of a bidding war from various labels. However, Morris Levy and his label Roulette Records stepped into the ring. Because of Roulette Records’ rumored mob ties, all the other labels dropped out and Tommy James ended up signing with them. Since the Shondells had broken up after the original release of “Hanky Panky,” he formed the classic line-up of the band using Pittsburg musicians. The reissue of “Hanky Panky” was a massive hit, reaching number 1 on Billboard Hot 100 and was followed by more hits including “I Think We’re Alone Now” (number 4 in 1967), “Mony Mony” (number 3 in 1968), “Crimson and Clover” (number 1 in 1968), and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” (number 2 in 1969). After a near-death overdose in 1970, Tommy James broke up the Shondells, moved to the country to recuperate and then launched a solo career. He had a Top 10 hit in the ‘70s with “Draggin’ the Line” (number 4 in 1971) but rarely got close to the Top 40 until 1979’s “Three Times in Love” (number 19). Tommy James has recorded sporadically since the 1980s but remains a popular live act on various oldies package tours.
