Tommy James & the Shondells

Tommy James’ road to superstardom began when a nightclub DJ in Pittsburgh discovered a twoyear-
old record by “The Shondells” and played it at his weekend dances. The crowd response was
so overwhelmingly positive that radio deejays started spinning it and an enterprising record
distributor bootlegged it, selling 80,000 copies in ten days. By May of 1966 “Hanky Panky” was
the number one record in Pittsburgh and Tommy James was a sensation.
Thus began one of the longest strings of nonstop hits in recording industry history! Tommy
James’ hit singles include; “Say I Am (What I Am),” “It’s Only Love,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,”
“Mirage,” “I Like The Way,” “Out Of The Blue,” “Get Out Now,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Crimson
and Clover” and the party rock rave-up “Mony Mony.”