Known for movies
Short Info
Spouse | Nancy Sinatra |
Fact | Ex-brother-in-law of Frank Sinatra Jr. and Tina Sinatra. |
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 Name | Tommy Sands |
Profession | Actor, Singer |
Education | University of Nevada, Reno |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | Nancy Sinatra |
Children | Jessica Sands |
Accomplishments
Movies | Mardi 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 |
---|---|
1 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1560 Vine St. |
2 | Was 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. |
3 | The pioneer rock-and-roller got his musical gifts from his mother, who was a vocalist in Art Kassel's band. |
4 | Became 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. |
5 | Has a model/singer daughter, Jessica Sands, who can be seen in Playboy, July 2000, p.180. |
6 | Served in the Air Force Reserves. |
7 | Ex-brother-in-law of Frank Sinatra Jr. and Tina Sinatra. |
8 | Ex-son-in-law of Frank Sinatra. |
9 | When 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
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | 1978 | TV Series | Kanner |
Hawaii Five-O | 1968-1976 | TV Series | Edward Ross / Joey / Joey Rand |
The Violent Ones | 1967 | Mike Marain | |
Bonanza | 1965 | TV Series | Wiley Kane |
Branded | 1965 | TV Series | Richard Bain |
Mr. Novak | 1964-1965 | TV Series | Gary Lewin / Ray Wilson |
Valentine's Day | 1965 | TV Series | Wally |
Combat! | 1965 | TV Series | Carey |
None But the Brave | 1965 | 2nd Lt. Blair | |
Kraft Suspense Theatre | 1964 | TV Series | Eddie Riccio |
Slattery's People | 1964 | TV Series | Jed Haskell |
Wagon Train | 1960-1964 | TV Series | Keith Lance / Ethan Morgan / Davey Baxter / ... |
Ensign Pulver | 1964 | Bruno | |
Laramie | 1963 | TV Series | Tad Henderson |
Alcoa Premiere | 1963 | TV Series | Harlan Tracy |
The Longest Day | 1962 | U.S. Army Ranger | |
The United States Steel Hour | 1962 | TV Series | |
Babes in Toyland | 1961 | Tom Piper | |
Love in a Goldfish Bowl | 1961 | Gordon Slide | |
Mardi Gras | 1958 | Barry Denton | |
Studio One in Hollywood | 1958 | TV Series | Buck Slater |
Shower of Stars | 1958 | TV Series | |
Sing Boy Sing | 1958 | Virgil Walker | |
Zane Grey Theater | 1957 | TV Series | Jace Rawlins |
Kraft Theatre | 1957 | TV Series | Vito Sorrano |
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) | 2000 | TV Movie documentary performer: "Teenage Crush", "Crazy Cause I Love You" / writer: "Teenage Crush" | |
Disney Dimanche | 1979 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Shindig! | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1965 writer - 1 episode, 1965 | ||
Hollywood a Go Go | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1965 writer - 1 episode, 1965 | ||
Babes in Toyland | 1961 | performer: "Just A Whisper Away", "Floretta", "Go To Sleep", "Toyland", "Workshop Song", "Just A Toy" | |
Love in a Goldfish Bowl | 1961 | performer: "Love in a Goldfish Bowl" | |
The Parent Trap | 1961 | performer: "The Parent Trap" | |
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall | 1960 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show | 1957-1960 | TV Series performer - 4 episodes | |
The 30th Annual Academy Awards | 1958 | TV Special performer: "April Love" | |
Sing Boy Sing | 1958 | performer: "Crazy 'Cause I Love You", "Who, Baby, Who?", "Soda Pop Pop", "Sing, Boy, Sing" / writer: "Daddy Wants To Do Right" | |
The James Dean Story | 1957 | Documentary performer: "Let me be loved" | |
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show | 1957 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The 29th Annual Academy Awards | 1957 | TV Special documentary performer: "Friendly Persuasion Thee I Love" | |
Kraft Theatre | 1957 | TV Series performer - 1 episode |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Working with Walt | 2006 | Video short | Himself |
Kelly | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
Songbirds: The First Ladies of Irish Song | 2005 | TV Mini-Series | Himself / Musician - Vocals |
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) | 2000 | TV Movie documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1963-1978 | TV Series | Himself - Co-Host / Himself - Vocalist |
The Joe Franklin Show | 1978 | TV Series | Himself |
Dream Girl of '67 | 1967 | TV Series | Himself - Bachelor Judge / Himself - Married Judge |
Where the Action Is | 1965-1966 | TV Series | Himself |
The Dean Martin Show | 1966 | TV Series | Himself |
Shindig! | 1965 | TV Series | Himself - Singer |
Hollywood a Go Go | 1965 | TV Series | Himself - Singer |
What's My Line? | 1965 | TV Series | Himself - Mystery Guest |
You Don't Say | 1964 | TV Series | Himself |
The Ed Sullivan Show | 1957-1963 | TV Series | Singer / Himself |
Stump the Stars | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Panelist |
The Bell Telephone Hour | 1962 | TV Series | Himself - Singer |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
Here's Hollywood | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
The 33rd Annual Academy Awards | 1961 | TV Special | Himself - Audience Member |
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall | 1959-1960 | TV Series | Himself |
New American Bandstand 1965 | 1960 | TV Series | Himself |
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show | 1957-1960 | TV Series | Himself - Singer |
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show | 1957-1960 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Singer |
Startime | 1960 | TV Series | Himself |
The Garry Moore Show | 1958-1959 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
The Red Skelton Chevy Special | 1959 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Juke Box Jury | 1958-1959 | TV Series | Himself |
This Is Your Life | 1957-1959 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest of Honor |
The Milton Berle Show | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
The 30th Annual Academy Awards | 1958 | TV Special | Himself - Performer |
The Big Record | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
Shower of Stars | 1957-1958 | TV Series | Himself |
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | 1957 | TV Series | Himself |
The Eddie Fisher Show | 1957 | TV Series | Himself |
The Spike Jones Show | 1957 | TV Series | Himself |
The 29th Annual Academy Awards | 1957 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Performer |
Hometown Jamboree | 1949 | TV Series | Himself (1949-1960) |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years | 1997 | TV Movie documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue | 1985 | Video short | Tom Piper |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1969 | TV Series | Tom Piper |
Frontier Justice | 1961 | TV Series | Jace |
Awards
Nominated Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | Golden Laurel | Laurel Awards | Top Male New Personality | 8th place. |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia