July 16, 1966 –
Tommy James and the Shondells‘ single Hanky Panky goes to No. #1 of the Billboard Charts on this date.
Tommy James & the Shondells initially formed in 1959 as Tom and the Tornadoes, with the then 12-year-old Tommy Jackson as lead singer. In 1963, he renamed the band The Shondells, after one of his idols, guitarist Troy Shondell. At first, they played straightforward rock and roll (as their first hit proves), but soon became involved in the budding Bubblegum music movement. From 1968, the group members tried themselves as songwriters, penning the psychedelic classic Crimson And Clover. The group carried on with constant success until early 1970, when James became exhausted from the strenuous touring and decided to drop out.
The Haus of Dcaligari 