Biography

In the late 50’s and 60’s as a young teenager in Yonkers, New York, and later in Boston, Tom worked shows for the Platters, the Coasters, Jay and the Americans, Martha and the Vandellas, the Three Degrees, Bill Medley, Wilson Pickett, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and a jazz gig with the great Jean “Toots” Thielmans.

Then he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. (1963-69) , to earn a Professional Diploma in Arranging and Composition. While in Boston, he married his wife Marianne and they now have two grown children and two grandchildren. After a short stint with the Buddy Rich big band (1969) and a good review in Down Beat magazine, he brought his family to Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe (1970), and got his B.A. in music. During his career, Tom has shared the stage with some of the best musicians and entertainers in the world in jazz, rock, rhythm & blues, popular and country music.

He has also taught every level of elementary, intermediate and high school. Tom taught music theory, music history, band, counterpoint, arranging and composition at Sierra Nevada College, eventually becoming Chairman of the music department there(1970-86). He has also taught at UNR and TMCC. One of his students - Jan Stevens - has been nominated for an Emmy award, writing music for the TV shows “Friends,” “The Soprano’s,” and now “Scrubs.” Many of his other students are also doing well in music.

Tom has been listed in the Who’s Who In Music and the Who’s Who In The West.

He is no stranger to the many casino cabarets and lounges in Reno and Tahoe, having worked with Frankie Fanelli, John Gary, David Clayton-Thomas (of Blood, Sweat and Tears), the famous and historic “Tony Clifton” comedy show at Harrah’s Tahoe, Zella Lehr’s band, the Las Vegas Road Show band and Smokey Joe’s at the El Dorado, etc.

Tom has played soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flute, alto flute, clarinet, oboe and English horn on the many shows that have come to the Reno-Tahoe area in the past when most casinos had an active “house” orchestra in a headliner room. Tom played for all of the bands. Some of the many shows he played were: Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Mel Torme, Debbie Reynolds, Sammy Davis, Lou Rawls, Ben Vereen, Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Jay Leno, Johnny Mathis, etc. and the “Hello Hollywood” show at the MGM Grand.

Tom's own big band was the house orchestra in the Headliner Room of the Cal-Neva in Crystal Bay, North Tahoe (1979-80) and he conducted the shows there for Dean Martin, Diahann Carroll, George Gobel, etc.

Currently, Tom owns “Good Notes” music publishing, which will begin to print and distribute his own orchestrations, big band arrangements, music books and instrumental quartets, trios, duos and etudes to high schools and colleges.

Tom provides musicians and bands for weddings, conventions, theme events, concerts and parties in the Reno-Tahoe and northern California-Nevada region. Great listening, Great dancing.
If you or someone you know wants to learn how to play saxophone, flute or clarinet, you can take lessons from Tom at Maytan’s music store in Reno. He teaches beginners or advanced, all ages. You can also learn how to write and arrange music from Tom at Maytan’s.