In 1964 in Tampa, Florida, the band, The Tropics, emerged by Buddy Pendergrass along with Wayne Guida, Ronnie Ferer, and Spencer Hinkle. Not long after, the Tropics began to perform all over Florida and the Southeastern US where they toured alongside The Who, The Young Rascals, Herman's Hermits, and Heinz Heinz & Dad. In 1966 they won the International Battle of the Bands, signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, and quickly became the top pop rock-band in the Southeastern.