Tommy & the Tom Toms

Tommy & The Tom Toms aka The Bill Smith Combo: The Tom Toms first started with two guitars and drums, Eddie Wayne Hill on lead guitar, Leonard Walters on rhythm guitar and Joel Colbert on drums. The three fledgling musicians from Arlington, Texas began jamming in an old barn in 1959 and evolved to playing around town for private parties. This exposure led to regular Friday night appearances at a small, local lounge. Bass guitarist David (Dave) Martin [1] joined the group a few months later. The owner of the Guthrey Club [2] in Dallas heard the band and hired them for an indefinite engagement. At Guthrey’s, one of the largest rhythm and blues clubs in city, the band completed their personnel by adding Joe Donnell on sax and Tommy Brown as vocalist. The band was now complete and decided to change their name to Tommy & The Tom Toms. They soon became one of the top, and most imitated, dance bands in the DFW area and recorded numerous singles for noted Fort Worth producer Major Bill Smith [3]

One of their best-selling records was an instrumental version of “Heartbreak Hotel” issued by Chess Records (#1773) [4]in 1960 under the pseudonym of the Bill Smith Combo [5]. More Tom Toms recordings were soon released including “Raunchy”/”Loco” issued by Chess (#1780) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Ptomaine”/”Snookie” issued by LeBill (#306) as the Bill Smith Combo, "Ptomaine"/"Heartbreak Hotel" issued by Sparton Records Canada (#4-857) as the Bill Smith Combo [6], “Anastasia”/”Tough” issued by LeBill (#303) as the Bill Smith Combo, “Souix”/”Are You Lonesome Tonight” issued by LeCamp (#1900) as Mr. Saks & The Blue Strings [7], “Tomahawk”/“Kentucky Waltz” issued by Jaro International (#77023) [8] as Tom Brown and The Tom Toms, “Tippin’ In”/”Saints” issued by Duncan (#1003) as Tommy And The Tom Toms [9], “That Cat”/”Tell Me” issued by K&B (#101) as Tommy Brown [10], “Corsicana”/”The Den” issued by Rodeo Canada (#247) as The Tom Toms and "The Waltz You Saved For Me"/"Big Blue Diamonds" issued by Maridene (#106) as Gene Summers & Platinum Fog [11]. During this time frame they also backed up Freddy Fender on his Argo release “A Man Can Cry” b/w “You’re Something Else For Me” (Argo #5375) [12] plus several other Freddy Fender recordings including the much later Fender release of “Since I Met You Baby”.

After a successful years’ stay at Guthrey’s, the club owner, K.K. Hayles, signed the band to a personal management contract. For the next year the band backed-up numerous recording stars including Roy Orbison, Jimmy Reed, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mark Denning, Jack Scott [[13]], Big Joe Turner, Skip & Flip, Freddy Fender, Scotty McKay [14][15], The Carlos Brothers, Chuck Berry [[16]], The Original Drifters [17] and once staged a battle of the bands with The Champs of “Tequila” [18] fame. Due to the popularity of their recording of “Heartbreak Hotel” they officially changed the band’s name to the Bill Smith Combo [19] in 1960.

Trivia

Tommy Brown was the brother of country/rockabilly singer Billy Brown.
Joe Donnell played saxophone for Trini Lopez before joining the Tom Toms.
Tommy and the Tom Toms recorded an instrumental version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" under the name Mr. Saks & The Blue Strings in 1960.
Joel Colbert later formed The Top Beats in 1975 and owned/managed night clubs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Producer Major Bill Smith influenced the band to change their name to the Bill Smith Combo in 1960.
Deceased members include Eddie Wayne Hill, David (Dave) Martin, Joe Donnell, and Leonard Walters.
Tommy Brown resides in Florida and Joel Colbert in Texas.

References