Tommy Sands

Tommy Sands, not to be confused with the Irish folk musician born in 1945, was among the first of rock and roll's teen idols. He issued his rockabilly oriented honky tonk, 'Love Pains', in 1951. He was born in Chicago on 27 August 1937 some score years before teenage girls began tacking his visage to their bedroom walls. Getting relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, as a child, he there picked up guitar at age seven before performing at radio KWKH on multiple occasions at age eight. He performed on 'Barn Dance' in Chicago (WBKB TV) at age ten. Moving to Houston with his mother in 1951, he there performed with a band on radio and at country fairs while attending high school.

Praguefrank's commences its disco of Sands in Houston in 1951 with Little Tommie Sands accompanied by Herb Remington (steel), et al, for 'Love Pains' / 'Syrup Soppin' Blues' (Freedom 5022) issued that year. A couple years later on August 4 of 1953 he recorded 'Love Pains' / 'Transfer' (RCA Victor 5435) as Tommy Sands in Chicago. Sands' next session was in September in Nashville for 'Roses Speak Louder Than Words' / 'Spanish Coquita' (RCA Victor 5435), 'Life Is So Lonesome' (RCA Victor 5628) and 'Never Let Me Go' (RCA Victor 5697). Those were followed in December, possibly in New York City, by 'I Know About the Bees' (RCA Victor 5697) 'A Dime and a Dollar' (RCA Victor 5628) and 'Kissin' Ain't No Fun' / 'Something's Bound to Go Wrong' (RCA Victor 6007).

'Love Pains'   Little Tommie Sands

Sometime 1951 in Houston   Matrix SMK 1812   Freedom 5022

Steel guitar: Herb Remington

Composition: Sands / Harry Todd

'Syrup Soppin' Blues'   Little Tommie Sands

Sometime 1951 in Houston   Matrix SMK 1813   Freedom 5022

Steel guitar: Herb Remington

Composition: Sands

'Transfer'   Tommie Sands

4 Aug 1953 in Chicago   Matrix SMK E3-VB-0262   RCA Victor 5435

Composition: Norman Gimble / David Saxon

'Roses Speak Louder Than Words'   Tommie Sands

Sep 1953 in Nashville   Matrix E3-VB-2257   RCA Victor 5510

Composition: Ed Nelson Jr. / Ken Nelson / Steve Nelson

'Spanish Coquita'   Tommie Sands

Sep 1953 in Nashville   Matrix E3-VB-2260   RCA Victor 5510

Composition: Sands

'I Know About the Bees'   Tommie Sands

Dec 1953 in NYC   Matrix E3-VB-2885   RCA Victor 5697

Composition: Thelma Ratledge / Sands

Sand's only session per Praguefrank's in 1954 was on June 16 in Dallas for 'Don't You Know I Love You' / 'Hankerin'' (RCA Victor 5860) with Sunshine Ruby and 'Don't Drop It' / 'Place for Girls Like You' (RCA Victor 5800). But Sands wasn't selling records as a country artist. Like Bill Haley several years before, reshaping his Saddlemen into the Comets, a radical switch from country to rock n roll would bring major success to Sands as well. Influential to that was Sands' acquaintance with Elvis Presley whom he may have met as early as 1954 in Houston [HAIF]. Sands broke out the gate in 1957 with his first rockabilly both on television and record in January. On the 14th he recorded 'Teen-Age Crush' / 'Hep Dee Hootie', his first for Capitol (3639). On the 30th his role in 'The Singin' Idol' aired on 'Kraft Theater' in which he played the part of a rock star, 'Teen Age Crush' also performed.

'Don't Drop It'   Tommie Sands w Sunshine Ruby

16 June 1954 at WFAA Radio in Dallas   E4-VB-4658   RCA Victor 5800

Composition: Terry Fell

'The Singin' Idol'   Tommie Sands   Film

Probably filmed c Oct 1956 in NYC toward release 30 Jan 1957

Directed by Paul Bogart

 'Homely Girl'   Tommie Sands

From the album 'Tommy Sands' on Brunswick BL 754216   1977

Composition: Eugene Record / Stan McKenney