My wife and I have spent more than $100 a ticket to see legendary entertainers like Smokey Robinson. Those are unforgettable memories, no doubt. But we often find ourselves reminiscing about the time we saw The Tams perform live at the Wytheville Meeting Center in 2013 for only $5. That night still ranks among the best shows we’ve ever seen. Their sheer showmanship and musical energy far exceeded anything we could have imagined.
Despite being wheelchair-bound, I danced with my wife that night. We met bandleader Albert “Little Red” Cottle and the rest of The Tams, and the warmth they shared was as unforgettable as their performance. I missed them when they came to the Chautauqua Festival in 2014 and had been waiting eleven long years to see them again.
This year, I finally got the chance—this time, with my daughter by my side. Though not a fan of what she calls our “old music,” even she couldn’t deny The Tams’ unbelievable dance moves and undeniable musicianship.
Robert Arnold, the group’s senior member, joined The Tams in 1991. Onstage with him were 15-year veteran Elton Richardson, Mikai Cottle (18-year-old son of Little Red), and Little Red himself. Together, they lit up the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park during their hour-long set at the Chautauqua Festival on Wednesday, June 25th as the 8:30 headliner.
It was almost hard to believe the performance was free. As Little Red told the crowd, “I joined the band when I was 6 years old. That was in 1976. I’m 56 now. My father told me, ‘Do what I say, and you’ll be all right. The show must go on.’”
Clearly, he’s given his son the same advice. Mikai was a revelation—an electrifying dancer who brought back the spirit of classic Motown with mid-air spins, full-stage jumps, and footwork so crisp it would put the Temptations to shame. Watching from my wheelchair, I can tell you without a doubt: there are no better dancers in the world than these men.
As they closed with the Isley Brothers’ “Twist and Shout,” Little Red reminded his son—and the audience—that he could still move just as well as the next generation. The Tams have become a musical dynasty: the legacy began with Charles Pope. After his passing in 2013, Little Red seamlessly took over. Now, young Mikai appears ready to inherit the crown when the time comes—and it’s clear he’ll wear it with style and soul.
Little Red spent much of the set singing among the crowd, while many eyes followed his path through the audience. Those who kept their gaze on stage witnessed something remarkable: three performers, aged 18 to 71, in perfect sync, never missing a beat.
Even when a toddler girl ran unattended through the last third of the show—trying to steal microphones and drumsticks, the band didn’t flinch. Professionals through and through, they never missed a note.
In a crowd-pleasing moment, audience members young and old were invited to dance onstage. “I picked the right group tonight,” Little Red said with a grin. “These white boys know how to do it.”
They opened with the O’Jays’ “Love Train” and followed it up with a Tina Turner-tinged rendition of The Trammps’ “Disco Inferno”—fitting, as my wife had performed a Tina Turner tribute earlier that same day. The crowd went wild.
Then came the Tams’ signature classics: “Hurt,” “What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am),” “Laugh It Off,” and “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” — a personal favorite of the late President Jimmy Carter.
They also delivered flawless covers of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Shake Your Booty,” and Wilson Pickett’s “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You.”
It was a setlist that had the entire park dancing from start to finish. Over the past 40 years, The Tams have become a beloved fixture of the Chautauqua Festival in Wytheville, and this year was no exception.
“Tell your people we want to come back on a Friday or Saturday night when we can play longer,” Little Red told the audience. “We love playing in Wytheville, where we’re all family.”
This year, Beach Music Night was moved to Wednesday just to accommodate The Tams’ schedule. And aside from my beautiful wife’s performance earlier that day, they were undoubtedly the highlight of the festival.
“God is love,” Little Red reminded the audience during a moment of reflection. “We need more love in the world, y’all.”
After the show, it was an honor for my family and me to meet the band again.
As he prepared to leave for the night, he turned to me and said: “Let’s do this again. We’re going to make some history.”
