Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy C.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tommy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Detroit has been my home my entire life until now…It was there where decades of musical success took root and continued to grow into the career I have now. Recently, I decided to pack up my life and make my way to the West Coast in order to be closer to my son, daughter-in-law and new baby granddaughter.
I was influenced by so many styles of music, from jazz and blues to rock and roll. My brother Chris (God rest his soul) was an extremely successful jazz trumpeter and vocalist in New Orleans. He was the one who really helped me get started at a very young age. At some point in time, I started to gravitate to the music of the early rock and roll pioneers such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc…many whom I ended up working with later on.
In the span of my career, I served as the musical director for Chubby Checker for ten years. I also played on stage with a number of musical legends such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Conway Twitty, Fats Domino, The Temptations and the Four Tops, among others. Having the pleasure of working with these musical greats has taught me how real rock and roll should be performed and now I proudly call my personal sound “a tribute to the greatest era of rock and roll.”
I’ve been playing in front of crowds around the globe since 1979. Now, along with my new group, Tommy C and the Black Widow Grease Band, I am ready to bring my Detroit Motor City way of rock and roll to Los Angeles.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Music is different than sports. In sports they keep score and you know where you stand. In music sometimes there is politics, fads and other factors to deal with.
So, you just have to stay true to your beliefs and rely on your talent and drive to prevail.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Upon making the decision to leave Detroit for California, I quickly started putting together a new group of guys with some help from my son. We came to be called Tommy C and the Black Widow Grease Band. I describe this team of talented Los Angeles musicians as highly adrenalized, high-octane rockers, fronted by my Detroit Motor City style of rock and roll.
When you come to one of our shows, you can expect to hear a great mix of music, hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s; overall a great combo of rock, soul and rhythm and blues. You will hear songs I love, songs that hold a special place in my heart, along with some original music from the new group. I truly believe that in order to put on a great show there has to be a lot of audience interaction because it’s all about the people – without them, there’s nothing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My work ethic sets me apart. I will work harder, longer and pay more attention to detail than most. I always “make sure “ things get done right behind the scenes….and on stage. Laziness and complacency are not part of my vocabulary!
My tenacity keeps me fighting to be the best I can be at all times. This is also what I am most proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tommycbwgb.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommycbwgb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOMMY-C-and-the-Black-Widow-Grease-Band-108972720477372/
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