Tom Maxwell (singer)

Last updated

Tom Maxwell
Tom Maxwell (singer).jpg
Maxwell at South by Southwest 2014
Background information
Birth nameThomas Edward Maxwell
BornSeptember 19, 1965 (1965-09-19) (age 58)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1986-present
Labels Merge, Mammoth, Moist/Baited Breath

Thomas Edward Maxwell (born September 19, 1965) is an American songwriter, singer, and musician. Most notably, Maxwell is the former lead singer of the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers. He wrote the single "Hell" from the 1996 platinum-certified album Hot .

Contents

Early life

Thomas Edward Maxwell was born September 19, 1965 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His parents are Joseph Maxwell and Nancy (née Miller) Maxwell. In 1972, his amily moved to Burnsville, North Carolina. [1]

In elementary school, Maxwell began playing alto sax. When he was fourteen, he taught himself to play the drums. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when he was seventeen. While there, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall and started his first band, Teasing the Korean, with classmate John Ensslin. In 1990, Teasing the Korean became What Peggy Wants, and they were signed to a local Chapel Hill label, Moist/Baited Breath. In December 1993, What Peggy Wants broke up. [2]

During his time in What Peggy Wants, Maxwell befriended Metal Flake Mother drummer Jimbo Mathus. In 1992, until Metal Flake Mother disbanded, Mathus became lead guitarist and Maxwell briefly joined as the band's drummer. [3]

Career

Squirrel Nut Zippers

In 1993, Mathus formed the neo-swing, pre-war jazz revival group Squirrel Nut Zippers with Katherine Whalen, Ken Mosher, Don Raleigh, and Chris Phillips, They played a couple of local shows and recorded a three-track EP on Merge Records. In January 1994, Maxwell was asked to join the band. [3]

The band signed with Mammoth Records in the summer of 1994. They recorded their first record, The Inevitable , a few months later in Hillsborough, North Carolina. In the summer of 1995, Maxwell, Mosher, and Mathus took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to visit their friend, Blind Melon drummer Glen Graham who had recorded Soup with Blind Melon at Daniel Lanois' Kingsway Studios earlier that year.

In October 1995, the Sqirrel Nut Zippers went to New Orleans to record its Hot album at Kingsway Studios with producer Mike Napolitano. They recorded Hot in six days, and the record was released in June 1996. The record went certified gold in May 1997, and by September of that year it was RIAA certified platinum, selling over 1.3 million copies. Maxwell's song "Hell", a single tone calypso, charted at No. 13 on Billboard Hot 100.

In 1999, Maxwell and Mosher left the band, [4] due to a management agreement that the band had signed without their knowledge. The band refused to pay royalties to either of them, which led to a five-year legal battle. They settled out of court for $155,000, [5] but the band breached the settlement and the two were only awarded a fraction of the money. This led to an irreparable relationship between Maxwell/Mosher and Mathus/Whalen.

In late December 2015, Maxwell published a piece on Medium explaining why he was not partiipating in the Squirrel Nut Zipper's 2016 tour. [6] The band plans to reissue Hot for its 20-year anniversary; one-third of the record's material was written by Maxwell and Mosher, including both singles which were penned by Maxwell. [7]

Solo musician

In 1999, Maxwell recorded his first solo album, Samsara, at Kingsway Studios. He toured for the record with Mosher and Phillips, along with Ben Folds Five bassist Robert Sledge. [4] Because of the Squirrel Nut Zippers legal turmoil and the birth of his first child, Maxwell stopped touring from 2000 until 2015. [8]

For several years, Maxwell worked with Mosher, contributing songs and scores for films and television, including season 1 of Lovespring International and the animated film Happily N'ever After .

Maxwell left music in 2006 to focus on his son's health. in 2009, Maxwell returned to music and released the first studio album Kingdom Come, in 2011. In 2014, Maxwell released his first record with The Minor Drag, Tom Maxwell & The Minor Drag, produced by Napolitano. [8]

Writing

Maxwell is a freelance writer who has contributed to Al Jazeera America, Slate , Oxford American , Salon , Southern Cultures, and Bitter Southerner. [9] In 2014, Maxwell wrote a memoir, Hell – My Life In the Squirrel Nut Zippers, about his experience in the band, his time on the road, and the recording of the band's albums. His book, A Really Strange Wonderful Time: The Chapel Hill Music Scence: 1989–1999, in scheduled to be released in April 2024. [10]

Honors

Maxwell was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. [11]

Personal life

In 2006, just days after he and his first wife separated, Maxwell's three-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. [5] Maxwell retreated from his musical career and focused on shepherding his son through a three-and-a-half-year treatment. His son made a full recovery.

In 2014, Maxwell and his family moved into Poplar Hill, a historic Greek Revival mansion in Hillsborough, North Carolina. [12] They rented the former plantation home, which had once belonged to tobacco industrialist and white supremacist Julian Carr, but broke their lease due to what they reported were various hauntings. [12] [13] [9]

Related Research Articles

Robert Ewell Sledge is an American musician, best known for his work with Ben Folds Five.

The swing revival, also called retro swing and neo-swing, was a renewed interest in swing music and Lindy Hop dance, beginning around 1989 and reaching a peak from the early/mid to late 1990s. The music was generally rooted in the big bands of the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s, but it was also greatly influenced by rockabilly, boogie-woogie, the jump blues of artists such as Louis Prima and Louis Jordan, and the theatrics of Cab Calloway. Many neo-swing bands practiced contemporary fusions of swing, jazz, and jump blues with rock, punk rock, ska, and ska punk music or had roots in punk, ska, ska punk, and alternative rock music.

Mammoth Records was an independent record label founded in 1989 by Jay Faires in the Carrboro area of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The majority of the acts on Mammoth were executive-produced by Faires and the label's general manager, Steve Balcom. The label was the first independent to produce two platinum records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squirrel Nut Zippers</span> American swing and jazz band formed 1993

Squirrel Nut Zippers is an American swing and jazz band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by James "Jimbo" Mathus, Tom Maxwell, Katharine Whalen, Chris Phillips (drums), Don Raleigh, and Ken Mosher.

The B-Sides are a rock band formed in 2000 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Noah Smith, the vocalist formed the band at the School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina recruiting fellow guitarist Ari Picker and keyboardist Travis Horton.

Cigar Store Indians are an American rockabilly band from Crabapple, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat Duo Jets</span> American rock band

Flat Duo Jets was an American rock band from Carrboro, North Carolina, and Athens, Georgia. This rockabilly, punk blues, and psychobilly band was a major influence on several bands of the 1990s and 2000s, including The White Stripes. The band's front man Dexter Romweber is considered by many to be the "godfather" of the guitar and drums and 'power duo' revival.

<i>Music of Hair</i> 1996 studio album by Andrew Bird

Music of Hair is Andrew Bird's first released album. The album came out in 1996. The tracks featured were written in Bird's early twenties, and the album was released when he was 23. The album features contributions from musicians Colin Bunn, Dave Dieckmann, Kat Eggleston, Al Ehrich, Kevin O'Donnell; and, James "Jimbo" Mathus, Katharine Whalen and Chris Phillips from Squirrel Nut Zippers.

<i>The Inevitable</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers

The Inevitable is the first album by the Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1995.

<i>Hot</i> (Squirrel Nut Zippers album) 1996 studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Hot is the second studio album by the Squirrel Nut Zippers, a retro swing band. Recorded as a follow-up to their acclaimed debut, The Inevitable, the group continued their use of big band sounds and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Upon its release in June 1996, the album drew favorable reviews from most critics, who praised the humorous lyrical compositions and the record's cross-generational appeal. The album peaked within the top 30 of the Billboard 200, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA in December of the year following its release. It also spawned a single, "Hell", which peaked at No. 13 on the Alternative Airplay chart; and though it did not reach the Pop Top 50, it did manage to garner airplay on 24 pop radio stations.

<i>Sold Out</i> (Squirrel Nut Zippers album) 1997 EP by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Sold Out is limited edition EP by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers that was released in 1997. The album contains live songs and other obscure tracks.

<i>Perennial Favorites</i> 1998 studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Perennial Favorites is an album by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1998.

<i>Christmas Caravan</i> 1998 studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Christmas Caravan is a Christmas album by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers that was released in 1998 by Mammoth Records. Produced by Mike Napolitano. Engineered by John Plymale.

<i>Bedlam Ballroom</i> 2000 studio album by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Bedlam Ballroom is a studio album by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 2000. It followed several major personnel changes. The album reflects a stylistic shift, with the band incorporating a broader ranges of styles, instrumentation, and production approaches. The band broke up after the release of the album, eventually reuniting in 2007.

<i>Roasted Right</i> 1994 EP by Squirrel Nut Zippers

Roasted Right is the debut recording by the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, first released as a 7" in 1994, and subsequently re-released with an additional track as an EP in 1997. Unlike later music by the Zippers, Roasted Right features a more blues-based sound without brass or woodwinds. The tracks "Anything But Love" and "Wash Jones" are early versions of songs later re-recorded for full-length albums.

Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire was an American band fronted by musician Andrew Bird. After releasing his first solo album, Music of Hair, Bird appeared on three albums by Squirrel Nut Zippers before becoming the bandleader for Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire.

Norwood J. Cheek, Jr., aka Norwood Cheek, is an American director, producer, and editor of film and television. He is known for his music videos and his work with Super 8 film.

The Moaners are a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based indie rock band. They were previously signed to Yep Roc Records. In 2004, Melissa Swingle's band Trailer Bride broke up, and she formed The Moaners with drummer Laura King, formerly of the Chapel Hill band Grand National.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimbo Mathus</span> American musician

James H. Mathis Jr., known as Jimbo Mathus, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and member of the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Katharine Whalen is a musician, singer, and songwriter originally from Greenville, North Carolina. She contributed vocals, banjo, and ukulele as a member of the Chapel Hill jazz band Squirrel Nut Zippers, a group that she founded in 1993 with then-husband Jimbo Mathus.

References

  1. ↑ "Charlie Rose Interview". Charlierose.com. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ Tom Maxwell. Hell: My Life in the Squirrel Nut Zippers (1st ed.). Oyster Point Press. ISBN   9780991516001.
  3. 1 2 Stephen, Thompson. "Squirrel Nut Zippers". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "MTV News". Mtv.com. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  5. 1 2 David, Menconi. "The News & Observer". Newsobserver.com. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  6. ↑ Tom Maxwell (December 5, 2015). "Squirrel Not Zippers". Medium . Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ Natalie, Weiner. "Billboard". Billboard.com . Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Jason, Heller. "Hear a jumping new song from Tom Maxwell of Squirrel Nut Zippers". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "We Salted Nannie: A True Southern Ghost Story". The Bitter Southerner. October 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ "A Really Strange and Wonderful Time". Kirkus Reviews. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Author Event: Tom Maxwell in conversation with David Menconi | Wake Forest Listening Room". wakeforestlisteningroom.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "'Never go back' – couple says haunted Hillsborough home has hidden history". Cbs17.com. November 1, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Julian Carr home built in 1794 up for sale in Hillsborough". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. October 30, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.