AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Tommy Roe

Artist:Tommy Roe
Song:Sheila
Album:Greatest Hits





Sheila was one of Tommy Roe's two number one hits in 1962. The other was Dizzy in 1969. Though Roe is perceived as bubblegum music, I'm sure most fans are not aware that he wrote and produced most of his own music. He was born May 9, 1942 in Atlanta. He worked as a solderer at the General Electric plant and had a band called The Satins on the side. He recorded Sheila for the small Judd label in 1960. It was at this time that he met producer Felton Jarvis who would go on to produce many Elvis Presley albums. And he also met legendary music publisher Bill Lowery. Lowery got him a record deal with ABC Paramount. The first single was Save Your Kisses in 1962. For the B-side, they decided to record a new version of Sheila. DJs liked Sheila and it topped the Billboard Hot 100. Roe wrote it and it is an obvious tribute to the late Buddy Holly and is especially reminiscent of Peggy Sue. He was still working at GE so ABC Paramount gave him $5,000 so he could quit his job and go on tour. Roe had another top ten hit with Everybody in 1963. Then he was in The Army for three years. When he returned in 1966, he had top ten hits with Sweet Pea and Hazel. And then he had his other number one hit with Dizzy in 1969. Roe wrote every one of those songs. So he may have been perceived as bubblegum but he was a good craftsman of pop music. Most of those songs hold up well today. This MCA budget comp has all the original ABC Paramount recordings. Tommy Roe last charted in 1971 and turned to the country music market. He still tours the oldies circuit today. Here's Tommy Roe performing Sheila on The Midnight Special.