Hello Tams fans! Charles and Little Redd recently gave an interview with Pat Gwinn. I thought it would be interesting to include it in the first Newsletter. So here you go!
The Tams Interview with Pat Gwinn, April 2008
Gwinn: "What is the legacy of The Tams?" Charles: "We were labeled as a national recording group but loved the label of a beach music group." Little Redd: "The Tams played all around the world, but nothing is like coming home to the Carolinas and Atlanta. We have great fans, homegrown good fans and people - but there is nothing like coming home."
Gwinn: "Little Red you began performing at the age of 6." Little Redd: "I would beg to get on the bus. I just loved to perform. I love it. The group would have a hard time getting into the bars because I was so small and so young. I had to sit in the van sometimes. It didn't matter to me, I had so much fun learning from Joe, and all the others."
Gwinn: "How much were you paid at age 6?" Little Redd: " A whole $5 a week. (Laughing outloud). I didn't care. It was so much fun to get on stage. I started making $25 a week as I got older."
Gwinn: "What's your fondest memory of the late Joe Pope?" Little Redd: "Pat, it was the effect he had on people. People just loved him so much. If someone in the audience missed a song or wanted to hear a song that wasn't in the show and told Joe, he would stand there and sing it to them! Like a solo performance. We'd be on the bus yelling, 'come on Joe' , 'let's go" , Joe would stand right there and finish that song. He just wouldn't let the fan(s) down. To Joe Pope, the fan was always first."
Gwinn: "As a child star, were you treated differently?" Little Redd: " Not really. I did get a tutor while in high school though. My friends were ok. Didn't really act different toward me."
Gwinn: "In the racially charged 60s, did The Tams face any racial tensions?" Charles: " Not really. People are people. We played for white clubs. Black clubs. Like any other groups we did our job. I think the racial tension was more made up than real. But after the shows, we were treated different sometimes. Little Redd: "They were treated like The Temptations . Treated real good! They were loved all over. We were followed from all over. William Lake, The Pad and so many more."
Gwinn: "Who was your musical influence, Red?" Little Redd: "No doubt, Joe Senior. He molded me. I still try to phrase songs to people like he did. I mean no one could make love to a song as Joe did but I try to phrase them like he did."
Gwinn: "You worked with the greatest showman of all time...James Brown." Little Redd: "You went to work when you were with James Brown! James had his own thing. One night James saw us and took us down to the basement and said 'that standing around, tapping your feet and snapping your fingers *** ain't happening!' James told us to change. We did!"
Gwinn: "How difficult was it for the family when Robert Lee Smith took his brothers to court to use the name, The Tams?" Charles: "I look at it like this...we all try to protect the name of The Tams. Robert went his way. We went our way. We wanted to protect the name of The Tams legally and with respect for one another. It became partly owned by Little Redd, Charles and Robert Lee."
Gwinn: "The future of The Tams?" Charles: "Fans still love us. just as they did years ago. Fans tell us we bring back so many memories." Little Red: "For some, it is taking fans back to a better day. We are blessed to perform and will continue as long as we can."
OK, so I thought that was cool! It made me think of the first time I saw them! So if any of you have a fond memory of The Tams, email me at TheTams@comcast.net and I'll compile them and share them. Be sure to put Tams Memory in the Subject line.
