Tommy Organ

Last updated
Tommy Organ
Tommy-O.jpg
Tommy Organ in 2013
Background information
Birth nameThomas LeRoy Organ Jr
Also known asTommy Organ / Tommy "O"
Born (1963-02-22) 22 February 1963 (age 60)
Origin Cleveland, Ohio
GenresRock, pop rock, alternative rock, pop, R&B, funk metal, neo soul
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals
Years active1981–present
Labels Epic Records, RCA Records, Bentley Records
Website tommyoorgan.com

Thomas LeRoy Organ, Jr. (born 22 February 1963), known professionally as Tommy Organ or Tommy "O", is an American musician, songwriter and producer.

Contents

The son of Thomas LeRoy Organ, Sr. (1940 – 1966 Musician, Army Veteran) and Dorothy Louise Render-Organ (1941 Legal Secretary, Entrepreneur), he began playing music at a very young age. His brother, Derek LaMont Organ (1961 Musician) is a prolific session drummer.

He has toured with such important artists as, Janet Jackson, Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC and The Jacksons. He also completed studio recordings with Ray Charles, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Tommy has also played in ceremonies of The Grammys, American Music Awards and MTV Music Awards with various artists.
In 2009, Tommy was chosen as a guitarist in Michael Jackson's "This is it" [1] [2] Tour band. After the death of Michael Jackson later that year, Tommy participated in Michael Jackson Tribute shows and as lead guitarist in The Jacksons’ "Unity Tour" in 2012 and 2013.

Life and career

Early years

Picking up the guitar at three years old, Tommy began playing music he heard on the radio by age five. He became a professional musician during high school joining the R&B group, Fantasy. In 1977 at the age of 14, he joined the band 7th Heaven as lead guitar, with Cornelius Mims on bass guitar, Rex Salas on keyboards, his brother Derek Organ on drums, Josef Parson as rhythm guitar, John Bolden on saxophone, Andy Cleves on trumpet and Kipper Jones as lead vocalist. In 1979, 7th Heaven changed the name to Tease. By the mid-1980s, some new members had joined the band, like Chuckii Booker on keyboards and Jay Shanklin on bass guitar.
Tease was founded in California as an R&B/Funk group, performing locally and nationally in the United States such as US Naval bases and top clubs in Los Angeles like "The Roxy" and "Trubador" getting a record deal with RCA Records in 1983, for the recording of their first album, the self-titled Tease. In 1986, the band joined Epic Records, where they recorded two more albums: Tease (second self-titled) in 1986 and Remember in 1988. [3]

Musical Career and Collaborations

In February 1990, with Tease having broken up, Tommy Organ started touring with Janet Jackson on her Rhythm Nation World Tour as guitarist and keyboardist until the end of the tour in November same year; for this work, he was awarded a platinum album plaque commemorating 6 million records sold. He subsequently toured with international artists such as Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, New Edition, The Jacksons, Anastacia, Ne-Yo, James Ingram, Natalie Cole, Maxwell, Aaron Carter and many more.
Mr. Organ has also completed studio recordings with Ray Charles, Lionel Richie, Melissa Manchester, Brandy, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins, Randy Jackson, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg. [4]
Besides performing, Tommy Organ writes and produces music for other artists such as writing the song "Danger Zone" on Waymon Tisdale's "Power Forward" CD. In addition to being a member of the After Dark with Michael Baisden house band, Tommy has also appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show, Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Grammys, American Music Awards, MTV Music Awards, The Soul Train Music Awards and Soul Train with various artists.
In spring of 2009, Tommy was chosen as a guitarist in Michael Jackson's "This is it" Concert Tour band. [5] When Jackson unexpectedly died later that year, Tommy was credited as himself in the film chronicling concert rehearsal footage entitled Michael Jackson's "This is it". Tommy had this to say about Jackson's death,"I didn’t believe it," says Organ. "I kept saying, 'The media is just picking at him again.’ I kept getting phone calls, and I was saying, 'Let me go down to rehearsal because no one’s called me to say it’s cancelled.’ Then I walked into the Staples Centre, my amp was off, and the lights were half-way turned down on stage, and I knew… The day before he was on stage, dancing and singing. Next day, he was gone.". [6] "He would just fill the room up, man, with joy" [7]
Tommy participated in Michael Jackson Tribute shows all over the world, in addition to performing as lead guitarist in The Jacksons’ "Unity Tour" from 2012 to 2013.
Later in 2009 Tommy Organ collaborated as lead guitarist in the George Lopez Tonight late night television show house band, The Ese Vatos, (headed by "This Is It" musical director Michael Bearden) for two years. [8]
Currently, Tommy is recording and editing his debut solo music compilation "Tommy O", expected to be released at the end of 2016 by "Bentley Records". The first single of this album is called "I want you" and was released on August 26, 2016.

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum
1983Tease (with Tease)
1986Tease (with Tease)
1988Remember (with Tease)

Released Singles as Solo artist

YearTitle
2016"I want you"

Studio collaborations [9] [10]

YearAlbumTommy "O" CreditArtist
1983"Visions"Guitar Gladys Knight & the Pips
1988"The Right Stuff"Guitar Vanessa Williams
1990"Ordinary Story"GuitarKipper Jones
1992"Niice 'n Wiild"Guitar Chuckii Booker
"Brother With Two Tongues"Guitar Mellow Man Ace
"In the Storm"Guitar El DeBarge
1993"When summer comes"Guitar George Howard
"My world"Guitar Ray Charles
1994"Brandy"Guitar Brandy
"Heart, Mind & Soul"Guitar El DeBarge
"Confesion De Amigos"GuitarPastor De Los Santos
1995"In the House"Arranger, Guitar The 5th Dimension
"Power Forward"Guitar, Producer, Composer ("Danger zone")Wayman Tisdale
1996"Under the streetlights"Guitar, Composer ("Tryin' to Get My Groove On") Dazz Band
"Connected to the Unexpected"Electric GuitarMisha
1997"Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface"Guitar The Whispers
"The Power of Touch"Guitar Bobby Lyle
1998"There's a Riot Goin' On"Guitar George Howard
2001"360 Urban Groove"GuitarJimmy Sommers
"Journey"GuitarHoward Hewett
2003"Lovelife"GuitarJimmy Sommers
2005"20th Century Masters:Smooth Jazz -Christmas Collection"GuitarVarious artists
2007"Sunset Collective"GuitarJimmy Sommers
2008"My so fine"GuitarAndre Delano
"Patti Austin"Guitar Patti Austin
"Next Level"Guitar, Steel guitarSekou Bunch
"Howard Hewett Christmas"GuitarHoward Hewett
2009"Smoove on the Move"GuitarJDee
"The Good Life Movement"Electric GuitarBosko
"Star Power"Guitar Norman Connors
"Unwrapped, Vol. 6: Give the Drummer Some!"GuitarUnwrapped
"Stand Still"GuitarAlice Williams
2011"It's Real"Acoustic guitarThe Real Seduction
"Radio Wayne"GuitarWayne Brady
2013"Alexander O'Neal"Guitar Alexander O'Neal
2014"Change is Gonna Come"GuitarSteve Cooke

Music videos

YearSongArtistDirector
1990"Black Cat" Janet Jackson Wayne Isham
1995"Diggin' on you" TLC F. Gary Gray

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRole
1987 Zombie High Himself (as member of "Tease") [11]
2009 Michael Jackson's This Is It Himself (as Michael Jackson's guitarist) [12]

Equipment

Guitars

Pedals

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston (band)</span> American rock band

Boston is an American rock band formed in 1975 by Tom Scholz in Boston, Massachusetts, that experienced significant commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. The band's core members include multi-instrumentalist, founder and leader Scholz, who played the majority of instruments on the band's 1976 self-titled debut album, and former lead vocalist Brad Delp, among a number of other musicians who varied from album to album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Bolin</span> American guitarist (1951–1976)

Thomas Richard Bolin was an American guitarist who played with Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple, in addition to maintaining a notable career as a solo artist and session musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Banks</span> British musician

Peter William Brockbanks, known professionally as Peter Banks, was a British guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. He was the original guitarist in the rock band Yes, and also the Syn, Flash, and Empire. Banks has been described as "the architect of progressive music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Lukather</span> American musician (born 1957)

Steven Lee Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a steady flow of session work beginning in the 1970s that has since established him as a prolific session musician, recording guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums spanning a broad array of artists and genres. He has also contributed to albums and hit singles as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Notably, Lukather played guitar on Boz Scaggs' albums Down Two Then Left (1977) and Middle Man (1980), and was a prominent contributor to several studio albums by Michael Jackson, including Thriller (1982). Lukather has released nine solo albums, the latest of which, Bridges, was released in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Kulick</span> American guitarist

Bruce Howard Kulick is an American guitarist and since 2000 a member of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously, Kulick was a member of the band Kiss (1984–1996). He was also a member of Union with John Corabi from 1997–2002 and Blackjack from 1979–1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britny Fox</span> American glam metal band

Britny Fox was an American glam metal band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming from 2000 to 2003, again in 2006 to 2008 and final time reforming in 2015 to 2016. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their minor hit "Long Way to Love". Bassist Billy Childs has been the only band member to be a part of each of the band's many lineups.

Blues Saraceno is an American rock guitarist, composer and music producer, currently residing in Los Angeles, California. He was discovered by Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine at the age of 16, which assisted him in releasing instrumental recordings on an independent basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Tedeschi</span> American blues musician

Susan Tedeschi is an American singer and guitarist. A multiple Grammy Award nominee, she is a member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a conglomeration of her band, her husband Derek Trucks’ band, and other musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Kulick</span> American guitarist and producer (1950–2020)

Robert Joel Kulick was an American guitarist and record producer, who worked with numerous acts such as Kiss, W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Meat Loaf, and Michael Bolton. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the elder brother of former Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Emmanuel</span> Australian guitarist

William Thomas Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist. Originally a session player in many bands, he has released many award-winning recordings as a solo artist. In June 2010, Emmanuel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM); in 2011, he was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown. In 2019, he was listed by MusicRadar as one of the 10 best acoustic guitarists in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuno Bettencourt</span> Portuguese guitarist

Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese-American guitarist. He became known as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme. Bettencourt has recorded a solo album and has founded rock bands including Mourning Widows, DramaGods, and Satellite Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Batten</span> American musician (born 1957)

Jennifer Batten is an American guitarist who has worked as a session musician and solo artist. From 1987 to 1997 she played on all three of Michael Jackson's world tours, and from 1999 to 2001 she toured and recorded with Jeff Beck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek St. Holmes</span> American singer and guitarist (born 1953)

Derek St. Holmes is an American rock musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's early solo career. After splitting from Nugent in 1978, St. Holmes worked with various artists, most notably the Whitford/St. Holmes project with Brad Whitford, who had then recently parted ways with Aerosmith. He has also reunited with Nugent on several occasions.

Tommy Eyre was an English session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Greg Lake, B.B. King, John Mayall, Ian Gillan, Gerry Rafferty, Tracy Chapman and Wham!. He played on Joe Cocker's UK chart-topper "With a Little Help from My Friends", on which he arranged the distinctive organ introduction, and Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" and "Right Down the Line".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orianthi</span> Australian musician, singer and songwriter (born 1985)

Orianthi Penny Panagaris, known mononymously as Orianthi, is an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter who rehearsed in 2009 with Michael Jackson in preparation for his This Is It concert series, and performed with Alice Cooper's touring band. Her 2009 debut single "According to You" peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, Believe, received a worldwide release in late 2009. The same year, she was named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" by Elle magazine. She also won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.

The Rimshots were an American funk and disco band, popular in the late 1970s

Rex Salas is a Grammy and Emmy Award nominated American record producer, songwriter, musical director, and music arranger. Best known in recent years for his work as the musical director for Janet Jackson on several of her tours, Salas has worked with many other notable artists.

Riccardo Formosa is an Italian-born Australian musician and composer. He was the lead guitarist of the pop band Little River Band from 1975 to 1976 and recorded their first two albums, Little River Band and After Hours.

Tease was an American R&B band formed in Los Angeles in 1979. The band originally consisted of Kipper Jones ; Josef Parson ; Thomas Organ ; Thomas' brother, Derek Organ (drummer); Rex Salas (keyboardist); and Cornelius Mims (bassist).

References

  1. "MICHAEL JACKSon's THIS IS IT | Sony Pictures Entertainment".
  2. "This is It". IMDb . 28 October 2009.
  3. http://www.discogs.com/artist/Tease Discogs.com
  4. "Guitar+ Artists | d'Addario".
  5. http://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/1139/tommy-organ-pocket-protector/13225 [ dead link ]
  6. "Jackson tribute: The tears and the tribulation".
  7. Knopper, Steve (2016-06-28). MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson. ISBN   9781476730387.
  8. "Archives". Los Angeles Times . 23 November 2009.
  9. "Home". cduniverse.com.
  10. "Home". allmusic.com.
  11. "Zombie High (1987) – IMDb". IMDb .
  12. "This is It". IMDb . 28 October 2009.
  13. "Tommy Organ rocks out with Whirlwind! – News – Whirlwind".