Known for movies

Short Info

SpouseNancy Sinatra
FactHas a model/singer daughter, Jessica Sands, who can be seen in Playboy, July 2000, p.180.


Tommy Sands (born August 27, 1937) is an American singer, actor, and songwriter. He had several hit records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including “The Battle of New Orleans” and “Singing the Blues”. He appeared in several films and television shows, including The Donna Reed Show and The Loretta Young Show. He was married to actress Debbie Reynolds from 1960 to 1973, and they had two children together.

Sands was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thomas Sands, Sr., a doctor, and his wife, Margaret (née McCarthy). He has two sisters, Margaret and Mary. He was educated at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, and graduated from there in 1955. He then attended Notre Dame University, where he studied business administration.

Sands began his singing career in 1956, when he recorded “The Teen Commandments” for the small Chicago-based label Vee-Jay Records. The record was a minor hit, and Sands was soon signed by Capitol Records. His first single for Capitol, “The Worryin’ Kind”, was a minor hit in 1957. His next single, “The Battle of New Orleans”, was a huge hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1959. The song sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Sands’ next single, “Singing the Blues”, was another million-seller, reaching #1 on the Hot 100 chart in early 1960. He followed it with a series of other hits, including “A Dear John Letter” (with Jean Shepard), “The Hokey Pokey”, “Cindy Oh Cindy”, and “Teenage Crush” (with Annette Funicello).

In 1960, Sands appeared in his first film, The Donna Reed Show. He also appeared in the films Because They’re Young (1960) and Palm Springs Weekend (1963). In 1961, he guest-starred on an episode of The Loretta Young Show.

Sands’ career began to decline in the mid-1960s. His last Top 40 hit was “A Place in the Sun”, which reached #39 in 1966. He continued to release records throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but none were successful.

Sands married actress Debbie Reynolds in 1960. They had two children together: Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher. The couple divorced in 1973.

Sands has been married three times. His first marriage was to actress Debbie Reynolds from 1960 to 1973. They had two children together: Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher. His second marriage was to Nancy Sinatra from 1985 to 1987. His third marriage is to Margo Lynn from 1988 to present. He has three children from his third marriage: Michael, Sean, and Erin Sands.

Sands has a net worth of $5 million.

General Info

Full NameTommy Sands
ProfessionActor, Singer
EducationUniversity of Nevada, Reno
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseNancy Sinatra
ChildrenJessica Sands

Accomplishments

MoviesMardi Gras, Sing Boy Sing, Babes in Toyland, Love in a Goldfish Bowl, The Longest Day, Ensign Pulver, None but the Brave, The Violent Ones, Cruisin Love Songs: Vol. 2, Rock's First Teen Idols, Live at the Rock 'n' Roll Palace: Vol. 1, Live at the Rock 'n' Roll Palace: Vol. 2, Cruisin' Hits of the 60...

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1560 Vine St.
2Was a disc jockey at age 12 with a radio station and cut his first record at age 14 which attracted the attention of Col. Tom Parker (Elvis Presley's manager) and RCA Records.
3The pioneer rock-and-roller got his musical gifts from his mother, who was a vocalist in Art Kassel's band.
4Became an immediate overnight sensation after copping the landmark lead in Kraft Theatre: The Singin' Idol (1957), which was the first TV drama on the subject of rock-and-roll. Tommy played a Southern Baptist Elvis Presley-like singer. The single from that show went to #2 on the Billboard charts.
5Has a model/singer daughter, Jessica Sands, who can be seen in Playboy, July 2000, p.180.
6Served in the Air Force Reserves.
7Ex-brother-in-law of Frank Sinatra Jr. and Tina Sinatra.
8Ex-son-in-law of Frank Sinatra.
9When he divorced Frank Sinatra's daughter, Nancy Sinatra, Sinatra allegedly saw to it that Tommy's blooming career went permanently on the rocks.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries1978TV SeriesKanner
Hawaii Five-O1968-1976TV SeriesEdward Ross / Joey / Joey Rand
The Violent Ones1967Mike Marain
Bonanza1965TV SeriesWiley Kane
Branded1965TV SeriesRichard Bain
Mr. Novak1964-1965TV SeriesGary Lewin / Ray Wilson
Valentine's Day1965TV SeriesWally
Combat!1965TV SeriesCarey
None But the Brave19652nd Lt. Blair
Kraft Suspense Theatre1964TV SeriesEddie Riccio
Slattery's People1964TV SeriesJed Haskell
Wagon Train1960-1964TV SeriesKeith Lance / Ethan Morgan / Davey Baxter / ...
Ensign Pulver1964Bruno
Laramie1963TV SeriesTad Henderson
Alcoa Premiere1963TV SeriesHarlan Tracy
The Longest Day1962U.S. Army Ranger
The United States Steel Hour1962TV Series
Babes in Toyland1961Tom Piper
Love in a Goldfish Bowl1961Gordon Slide
Mardi Gras1958Barry Denton
Studio One in Hollywood1958TV SeriesBuck Slater
Shower of Stars1958TV Series
Sing Boy Sing1958Virgil Walker
Zane Grey Theater1957TV SeriesJace Rawlins
Kraft Theatre1957TV SeriesVito Sorrano

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)2000TV Movie documentary performer: "Teenage Crush", "Crazy Cause I Love You" / writer: "Teenage Crush"
Disney Dimanche1979TV Series performer - 1 episode
Shindig!TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1965 writer - 1 episode, 1965
Hollywood a Go GoTV Series performer - 1 episode, 1965 writer - 1 episode, 1965
Babes in Toyland1961performer: "Just A Whisper Away", "Floretta", "Go To Sleep", "Toyland", "Workshop Song", "Just A Toy"
Love in a Goldfish Bowl1961performer: "Love in a Goldfish Bowl"
The Parent Trap1961performer: "The Parent Trap"
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall1960TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1957-1960TV Series performer - 4 episodes
The 30th Annual Academy Awards1958TV Special performer: "April Love"
Sing Boy Sing1958performer: "Crazy 'Cause I Love You", "Who, Baby, Who?", "Soda Pop Pop", "Sing, Boy, Sing" / writer: "Daddy Wants To Do Right"
The James Dean Story1957Documentary performer: "Let me be loved"
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show1957TV Series performer - 1 episode
The 29th Annual Academy Awards1957TV Special documentary performer: "Friendly Persuasion Thee I Love"
Kraft Theatre1957TV Series performer - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Working with Walt2006Video shortHimself
Kelly2005TV SeriesHimself
Songbirds: The First Ladies of Irish Song2005TV Mini-SeriesHimself / Musician - Vocals
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)2000TV Movie documentaryHimself (uncredited)
The Mike Douglas Show1963-1978TV SeriesHimself - Co-Host / Himself - Vocalist
The Joe Franklin Show1978TV SeriesHimself
Dream Girl of '671967TV SeriesHimself - Bachelor Judge / Himself - Married Judge
Where the Action Is1965-1966TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Show1966TV SeriesHimself
Shindig!1965TV SeriesHimself - Singer
Hollywood a Go Go1965TV SeriesHimself - Singer
What's My Line?1965TV SeriesHimself - Mystery Guest
You Don't Say1964TV SeriesHimself
The Ed Sullivan Show1957-1963TV SeriesSinger / Himself
Stump the Stars1962TV SeriesHimself - Guest Panelist
The Bell Telephone Hour1962TV SeriesHimself - Singer
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1961TV SeriesHimself
Here's Hollywood1961TV SeriesHimself
The 33rd Annual Academy Awards1961TV SpecialHimself - Audience Member
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall1959-1960TV SeriesHimself
New American Bandstand 19651960TV SeriesHimself
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1957-1960TV SeriesHimself - Singer
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show1957-1960TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Singer
Startime1960TV SeriesHimself
The Garry Moore Show1958-1959TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest
The Red Skelton Chevy Special1959TV MovieHimself
The Juke Box Jury1958-1959TV SeriesHimself
This Is Your Life1957-1959TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest of Honor
The Milton Berle Show1958TV SeriesHimself
The 30th Annual Academy Awards1958TV SpecialHimself - Performer
The Big Record1958TV SeriesHimself
Shower of Stars1957-1958TV SeriesHimself
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1957TV SeriesHimself
The Eddie Fisher Show1957TV SeriesHimself
The Spike Jones Show1957TV SeriesHimself
The 29th Annual Academy Awards1957TV Special documentaryHimself - Performer
Hometown Jamboree1949TV SeriesHimself (1949-1960)

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years1997TV Movie documentaryHimself (uncredited)
The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue1985Video shortTom Piper
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1969TV SeriesTom Piper
Frontier Justice1961TV SeriesJace

Awards

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1962Golden LaurelLaurel AwardsTop Male New Personality8th place.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

Write A Comment

Pin It