The Harris family moved to Baltimore in the early 1950s. As a teenager Tim soon made a name for himself as a vocalist singing on street corners and anywhere else he could be heard. He soon landed jobs singing at the Senator Theater on Howard Street, Adam’s Lounge in Turner’s Station, and Eddie’s Lounge whose house band featured drummer Purnell Rice who later performed many Left Bank Jazz Society sessions and was a member of the Claude Hubbard Trio.
Harris impressed talent scout William ‘Fats’ Elliott who took him to the Apollo Theater in New York. Tim took honors at the Apollo talent shows and earned a contract with King Records in Cincinnati. His first record was cut in 1957 as Tiny Tim & the Tornadoes with backing actually by Otis Williams & the Charms. Tim went on to tour nightclubs throughout the chitlin’ circuit. However, his record was not released until 1958 on King’s subsidiary label Deluxe Records after Tim had released a Frankie Lymon sound-a-like single on Roulette. The Roulette single was done in order to fulfill wishes of label management although it featured a departure from Tim’s natural baritone voice. A non-authorized record was released in 1960 “My One Desire” b/w “I’ve Gotta Find Someone” (Teen’s Choice 8).
Meanwhile Harris performed regularly, worked as a producer and wrote many songs. One of his songs “Come Back to Me” was recorded by Little Willie John and released on King.
By 1964 Harris moved back to Baltimore where he established his own studio and the Timco Publishing Company on North Avenue. With booking agent and Ru-Jac Records owner Rufus Mitchell as his new manager, Tim worked steadily throughout the mid-Atlantic region including local venues such as Carr’s Beach, Sparrows Beach, Uptown Club, Kozy Korner, and Well’s Lounge… with bands featuring Baltimore saxophone great Mickey Fields and organist Lloyd Grant. His group The Chosen Ones featured Fields (tenor sax), Calvin Vaughn (organ), and Bobby Keyes (drums).
Tim released a single on Ru-Jac as Tiny Tim (Mr. T), and another single on Bobby Robinson records as Tiny Tim Harris.
In the ‘70s Tim fronted a group called The New Thing. Members included Harold Adams (sax), Clyde Liggon (organ), and Willie Barber (drums). They eventually expanded to a six-piece group with members including Jim Bethea (guitar ex-Little Richards Upsetters band), Marvin Cabell (sax, organ), Elysia Ray (bass), Herb (drums), Calvin Vaughn (organ), Bones (bass). Tim’s friend Ernie Andrews, a Philadelphia native who sang with Harry James, Cannonball Adderly, and others, joined Tim as a vocal duo in local clubs including Dotson’s in Anne Arundel County.
In 1985 Harris performed for Ronald Reagan’s second Presidential Inaugural Ball. After a six-year stint singing in New York clubs (1986-92) and a couple of years in California Tim once again returned to Baltimore. In the ‘00s his Do It All Band performed a mix of jazz / R&B / blues. The group featured Major Boyd (tenor sax), Corey Brooks (keys), and Reuben Armstrong (drums ex-Spindles). They performed at the Shortstop Lounge (now defunct), Duffy’s, Maceo’s Lounge…
1957 Roulette 4123 Wedding Bells / Doll Baby
1958 DeLuxe 6184 Face to Face / By My Side
1963 Ru-Jac 1613 Saving All My Loving / It’s Everything to Me
1968 Timco 1000 Mac Arthur Park / Don’t Say
1969 Bobby Robinson 100 Mac Arthur Park / Don’t Say
1969 Menzola 100 Mac Arthur Park / Don’t Say
Tim Harris photos courtesy of Larry Benicewicz
