What's A "Shondell" (as in Tommy James and the Shondells)?

[ralph124c]

Back in the ancient days (of the 1960’s), there was an American pop grop called “Tommy James and The Shondells”.
Now, I have seen Mr. James, but what is a “Shondell”?
Are they aliens, possibly from Mars?

[hajario]

Tommy James and the Shondells

In 1964 James re-named the band The Shondells because the name “sounded good.”

[John_Mace]

@ralph124c

Are they aliens, possibly from Mars?

Yes. They are aliens from Mars.

[Johnny_L.A]

Troy Shondell

However, in 1963, Tommy Jackson changed the name of his high school band from Tom and the Tornados to the Shondells in honor of Troy Shondell (one of his musical idols).[sup][1][/sup] Jackson became Tommy James and international fame followed for the act.