The Tampa Times describing the victory of The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, at the International Battle of the Bands. The headline reads, "Tropics Win International Prize," and was written by Nancy Trice and Carole Newman. According to the article, The Tropics played "I'm a Man," "Misirloo," and "Black-Jacket Woman." The band one new equipment from Ludwig Drum Company, recognition as the house band for WLS Radio for one year, and the opportunity to perform with The Mamas and The Papas in Chicago on August 20th.

The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> The Tampa Times, August 10, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> The Tampa Times]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> The Tampa Times, August 10, 1966. http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_215142242836_215085887836_4171128_3418623_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_218662622836_215085887836_4195577_2735513_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> The Tampa Times on January 4, 1968, describing a concert with the bands The Tropics and The Rascals. In this photograph, a large banner hangs from the upper level that reads, "WORLD TEENAGE SHOW 1966 TOP CHAMPIONS," and "INTERNATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNERS."

The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> The Tampa Times, January 4, 1968: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> The Tampa Times]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_215140827836_215085887836_4171118_2836496_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_215138837836_840642_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/The%20Tropics4.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/The%20Tropics.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/17467_296462922836_215085887836_4703232_1048287_n.jpg.]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/17467_296462927836_215085887836_4703233_2921998_n.jpg.]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/17467_296462937836_215085887836_4703234_8018536_n.jpg.]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/17467_296462957836_215085887836_4703236_6490552_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_215746717836_215085887836_4175124_7881811_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/The%20Tropics3.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society]]> http://www.tampabaymusichistory.com/resources/15743_218659867836_215085887836_4195556_2936354_n.jpg.]]> Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Rock Collection, Central Florida Music History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.]]> Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>