I met Tommy in 1978 when he did a class at G.I.T. He handed me his Savarez classical guitar and asked me to play something Spanish, which I did. For some reason he liked me. I think it was the Bronx accent. Several weeks later a student came into other class we were in and asked if there was a Mike in the class. He said Tommy wanted me at Paramount Studios in an hour. I thought it was a joke. Apparently he remembered me and wanted me to see him in action. Another student drove me and my life changed that day. I won’t take any more space writing about his anecdotes, and his mentoring, and his awesome guitar playing I witnessed that day. But I just want to say he was a great and generous human being that will always be in my heart. God bless.
..you were one lucky man, I would've loved to have met him, what an experience that must have been. He seemed like such a down to earth guy, I just watched wrecking crew, I never realized how many musical stars that had number one hit records, never played an instrument. I'm 62 and I've always loved music and just learned something after watching that movie/documentary. Best to you.
Used to love Tommy's columns in Guitar Player Magazine in the 70's. He'd always include the session guitars and amps and the time he worked plus the wages earned! An accomplished guitarist who showed you the business side of it too!❤
Well said, and you ain't kidding!! They should be inducted into the rock 'n' roll Hall of fame!! Probably even today, most people have never heard of Tommy Tedesco or Plas Joknson tenor sax, Don Randi( keyboards) , Hal Blaine( drums) or any of the rest of those great players!!. They "deserve" that recognition!!.---- nothing less!!. It's long past due!!.
Growing up I had a lot of different guitar player influences, then I read an article in Guitar Player and I found out they were all really named Tommy Tedseco.
When I was a youngster I accompanied my Dad, Buddy Kendrick, longtime friend/ artist rep, for Leo, to a studio somewhere in LA. As I-entered the building, helping my Dad carry several guitars,, I heard Mas Que Nada playing, a hit from Sergio Mendez and Brazil 66. I was surprised to see it wasn’t a recording but the actual group playing! I was then introduced to many players, and I wish I could remember who, but one my Dad addressed as Teddy, who I believe was Tedesco! As my Dad conducted biz, I sauntered over to watch Sergio and they began playing Fool On The Hill, the Beatle cover that became one of their hits! My Dad passed in 84, but I was honored to accompany him on many occasions to meet icons, sadly, most are now gone!
Thanks for share your great experience here.. I'am a Guitar Player but not really good to be a session player,hahaa.. I'am from South East Asia,not a good place to learn Jazz,bcos most of the player here playing Rock.. The session guitarist here also the rock guy and some can't read the notation.. I'am not familiar with Jazz Fusion or the guy playing it until some day i heard Lee Ritenour.. And start interested by his playing and search if he play the other style.. Ohhh my God.. I have no idea that i listen to one of the great session player in L.A.. Then i found Carlton Four Play Sanborn and more to Jazz Fusion Funk RnB and Blues.. I don't care if someone can play 1000 note a bit,or the over flashy playing,that style not get my attention anymore.. I love if the player playing just enough to serve and support the song itself and make the song sound good... Than i realise only The Session Player playing like that,and more interested to Session Musicians than the soloist the speeder the shredder or the lightning overplay player.. The latest Guitaristi heard was the late Hiram Bullock.. I belive you knew him,he play for many artist and Guitar Player for other musicians like Sanborn Bob James Marcuss Miller John Scofield and many more.. He could play on anything but he himself i think more to the Blues Funk Fusion Rock RnB player.. I'am sorry i share nothing here but just my favorite player.. You're really lucky guy who living on the place where all the great musicians living,and i belive you also great and talented player.. Have a nice day sir..🤗🤗
All those years during the 60's when I thought I was trying to play like Carl Wilson, Mike Nesmith, and all the others, it turned out I was trying to play like Tommy Tedesco. Damn, how I wish I knew that 50+ years ago! You'll always have a special place in my heart, Tommy!
I went to Musician's Institue in 1989 -1990 and did the summer session too. I was in the drum school but I revered Tommy Tedesco so much I would go sit in on his counseling and master classes. What a beautiful human being. He kidded me a lot by saying, "those drums don't have strings!"...other words, "I'm glad you're here and nice to see you..."
Thanks to Guitar Player magazine, most of us know Tommy. I have the greatest respect and admiration for him and the Wrecking Crew. They gave us joy and a road map to playing excellence to go by. I feel fortunate to have lived during this period of music masterpieces. God bless Tommy and the gang.
There is one “guy” often overlooked and you can she her in several of the studio photos, Carol Kaye. She came up with the bass line for “And the Beat Goes On”, along with playing in this group on countless hits. Check out her autobiography, she kept all her lists of session dates. Carol Kaye played both bass and guitar. In this video you hear her voice a couple of times, but they don’t mention her name.
I remember as a kid getting Guitar Player magazine and being impressed by his column. As the years went by and I read more and more of those stories I was thinking "is there anything that this guy didn't play on". I always loved those session stories.
Tommy Tedesco's instruments belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Wrecking Crew deserve their own display at the least. ARE YOU LISTENING BENEFACTORS?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame houses the ashes of Alan Freed. Thanks to Terry Stewart the place will have relevance in perpetuity. So no matter what your beef is with the place or the people now running it, please have at least some small measure of respect for the history that it holds within its walls.
I always loved reading Tommy's articles in Guitar Player magazine on his exploits;trials and tribulations;and experiences as a session player. Always had something interesting to write about.
Me, too. I wanted to have a job like Tommy T. had. I neglected to get the proper training/education to pull off that kind of gig. RIP, Tommy T. Thank you, Denny T. for putting the Wrecking Crew Movie together.
It's these types of video segments that make RU-vid so great. As a kid growing up in the 60's in Seattle, I listened to whatever was being played on the popular AM radio station and then listen to records at home or in your friends basement. At the time you have no idea how they were made or all the great history that is the backstory of this period of time in the music industry. It's so great to hear these sessions and get to know all about the great musicians that made up the "Wrecking Crew". I never would have imagined that I would become such a big fan of people like Tommy Tedesco, Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine, etc. Thanks for posting this.
The 60s was all about "The American top 40" on AM. FM? WTF is that? There weren't 1000s of stations representing every genre of music, which is how we came to know them.
I respectfully disagree with you at the end here. Nobody will ever take his place. Tommy truly was one in a million. I went to MI in 93 to 94. I had the pleasure of seeing him there. It was magical to listen to such great wisdom, talent ,humor and humility all rolled up into one brilliant person. " I'm just a bricklayer from Hoboken ". He used to say. A producer wanted an Egyptian sound, " I played this". The next guy wanted an Indian sound, " I played the same thing". The next guy wanted a Spanish sound, " I played the same thing again". Etc... "They were all happy. " The man was brilliant. He knew "they didn't know shit from shinola ". Because he understood this, he always delivered what they thought they wanted. Thank you for creating this tribute to my all time favorite musician, Tommy. Edit. P s Does anyone remember his skit from the Gong Show?? Him in a ballerina outfit Smokin a cigar playing his acoustic guitar. Priceless! Wow, would I love to see a clip of that again. He told us at school he was friends with JP Morgan and others so when a guest cancelled, he got the call often to come on the show.
@@thomashumphrey9797 ooohhh wow. Thank you so much for that. I'm going to watch that 100 times today alone. I think he did it a few times, not sure. I thought he had his beard in one or two. I might be mistaken. I can't thank you enough for that link.
I'm with you. Surprised that the said that about his dad. That's like saying someone will replace, DaVinic, Picasso, Elvis, Sinatra, Brando or Francis Ford Coppola.
In 1978 I enrolled and took classes at G.I.T., Guitar Institute of Technology, which has become Musicians Institute, and Tommy was a regular instructor at that time. Of all the lectures, the one thing I took away from him was: if you make a mistake while playing a song, make sure you make the same mistake in the same place during the rest of the song! Nobody'll know you made the mistake in the first place! Invaluable advice!
I got there a little bit after you, pounding on the ceiling of the Hollywood Wax Museum. Tommy was so supportive and made a daunting task (getting into the system of working studio players) seem funny and not so scary. He was the same guy one on one as in a big crowd. He made a difference for a big big bunch of us.
I didn't know that the great guitarist Tommy Tedesco had played in so many successes, but I had known him for more than 30 years because I have his album released here in Brazil called "Spectacular! Guitar Twist !, I always loved to hear it.
I just discovered this beautiful film this short segment on Tommy tedesco has to be one of the most beautifully and eloquently written pieces I've ever witnessed kudos to you young man for spotlighting your father in such a wonderful way,
I cracked up hearing Gary Lewis telling the story that none of his guitar players could play the flamenco parts in Sure Gonna Miss Her. Gary, nobody else's guitar players could play those parts, either! I was 12 or so when that song came out, and I remember being blown away by the flamenco guitar; I thought at the time it was several harps; Tommy, you nailed that one!
I met Tommy when he gave a talk at California State University Northridge in 1979. He always tried to give back to the students. He had a lot of fun stories to tell that night.
Wow, thank you Tommy, and God bless The Wrecking Crew. I get it ! this stuff will never get old, the older it gets, the more it warms my heart, and i was alive to witness the 50,s -?
Listening to this Tommy video for the I don't know how many times and reading the comments from the folks who met him and shared their stories brings a tear to my eye that Tommy's gone, his talent is gone and stories like this are gone, but are still here as long as RU-vid stays free.
Anyone who enjoyed this (if they haven't seen yet) take the time to watch The Wrecking Crew movie. Was free on RU-vid a short time ago, sadly not currently..
I read Tommy's articles in Guitar player when I went to GIT later my "Rhythm Guitar Teacher" was Tommy. Great guy after one class we walked down the hall talking afterwards. He'd talked about becoming Nancy Sinatra's main Guitar Guy and why...he said a lot of guys added extensions and jazz chords to everything fluffing it up to much for Folk Music. Amazing memories now. An honor to be honest that a little part of me strumming chords and laying down demos for friends comes from him.
I know this is a little off topic, I was born and raised in Redwood City California and I get a big ol smile everytime I see a piece of Ampex equipment, "Made in Redwood City, California"
I was an electronics nerd who used and repaired lots of Ampex audio and video gear during my career, including their early 2" videotape "quad" head VTR recording systems. In the beginning, and for many years, the television recording industry and the commercial networks owed their successes to the Ampex Corporation and those VTRs. Ampex professional reel to reel audio recorders were the industry standards. One of the best museum experiences I ever had was touring the old Redwood City plant and museum. Lots of great broadcasting history there.
Bill Church Left in 1962. I think ampex was on its last legs by then. Silicon Valley consisted of little more than apricot and cherry trees. Hewlett-Packard has just been organized. Apple was operating out of Steve Jobs’ garage in menlo park. I was playing music for fraternity parties at Stanford and Cal. We actually played for David packards’ daughter’s wedding reception in I think it was 1959z. Who knew?
Nothing's of topic for me Timmy - I am just a limey picker and fascinated by everything that happened in the USA - reading all these comments is an educational for me
Tommy was a neighbour of mine for many years and we became good friends. He gave me one particularly good piece of advice. He loved moleskin pants and wore them whenever he could. He believed that comfort was a basic requirement for creative endeavour. I’ve been wearing moleskin pants ever since. R.I.P. Tommy.
When Tommy came to Coalinga to do a performance years back, I was one of his side men. Unforgettable. He broke up the house when he said if his belly grew 2 more inches he`d have to give up playing. For you who want to know one of his secrets, it is " 3 on a string". Think vertically.
Tommy Tedesco should have his own religion. All up and coming cover musicians owe this guy a lot. I also noticed that Carol Kaye made some comments but her presence was never shown perhaps due to the internal feud with Hal Blaine and the "Wrecking Crew" name..
I have watched many videos about the Wrecking Crew and I am still utterly amazed at how many songs and genres of music that I love that they are a part of.
Fabulous. I first came across Mr Tedesco in the late 60's when he wrote a session musicians diary account for Guitar Player magazine. However he was so modest in those diaries I never realised just how important his contribution to the contemporary music of the last 60-70 years has been.
When my copy of Guitar Player Magazine would arrive, the first thing I would do was turn to Tommy's column. It was fun, easy to read and most importantly, filled with good solid advice on being a guitar player. I learned a ton from those columns. A few years later, a good friend told me that Tommy used to be a regular customer at his restaurant in L.A., Skoby's. I said really?... do me a favor and please get Tommy's autograph for me. Tommy signed one of the cocktail napkins to me, and said that music and good food were two of the best things in life! Amen to that! RIP Tommy Tedesco, you did great things!
I fully expect to get called in to do studio work very soon! I definitely have the skills required! And I like the way that the job description reads - steady work with room for advancement. Can't wait to get started! Start out cleaning toilets and can work my way up to washing floors!!!!!!!
It's sad that we never got to know the musician that made a lot of our favorite songs and it's sad that these other people took credit when they did not deserve it !!!!
That was the "music business" back then!. Very sad but true!!. These players should have gotten the album credits, but, I guess the producer or whomever decided that was not the thing to do because it would somehow diminish in the minds of the fans that these "session cats" we're really the "magic" on those tracks that made those singers sound so good!!. And, if it was a self contained group, the "wrecking crew" made that group really "pop!!". It was really a "shame!", in my opinion that they didn't get the universal "recognition" they so richly deserved, and the young players who were coming up in the business, never really "knew" who those fantastic players were!. I had no idea that "the crew" was the backbone of all of those great hits of the 60's and 70's!!. Had they been revealed on the album s the "real musicians" who did the backing tracks, it would have "inspired" countless young players to follow their careers more closely!!.
It's not a mini-documentary, it's just a few clips taken from The Wrecking Crew movie, primarily to reference Tedesco in regards to the sale of his instruments 5 years ago.
ccmkoho It was CLARENCE White. He and his brothers Roland, and Eric White had a group The Kentucky Colonels. Look them up. They were pretty a great Bluegrass Band. Clarence later played guitar with the Byrds.
I saw him in a music store in Madison in the early-mid-80’s and he pulled the gag with the upside down music chart. He was playing all this unlistenable nonsense, then suddenly stopped and flipped it around and began playing something familiar. He got a laugh. Pretty sure Comedian and pianist Victor Borge did it first. Doesn’t matter. Great gag! He could play!!
He also played in the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, during the dinner sequence, he was asked to play something 'exotic' so he just played the same figure over and over.
in the 60 only a few guitar players were available to read those sheet music parts.Today there are tons of guitar players good first sight readers..but today the music had change ..guitar is not the main instrument to use ..synthesizer is the main instrument now in albums projects , in the other side jingles producers still use electric guitar ,acoustic guitar., also in shows as a back up guitar player
Well, you are gonna be looking for a long time, I'm afraid!!. Cats like "these" are in short supply these days!!.they were a "rare breed" of players, indeed!!.
There was an article in Playboy Magazine (you know, bcs the articles) about a couple of young studio guys just breaking in. The recurring gag was, in every studio there was a cartage box marked H. Blaine #12 (or #6 or whatever). "Hal Blaine! That guy must be a billionaire(!)" Actually, he WAS a deca-millionaire in 1970's dollars...which he lost much of to multiple divorces and tax-penalties.
Niagara Falls, I was born there too. Unfortunately it wasn’t something in the water , as a 45 year pro bar musician I’m still not worthy to carry Tommy’s amp to a session . Tommy was Easily the best ever to come from western New York, he’s considered a God here!
@@bryanstaddon5998 the Ontario house ! We tryed to gig there no dice ! But it was a cool place to hang out, many great jazz artists would stop in and play, passing thru from Toronto , I know Tommy played in there.
The stories are certainly great. But, what keeps capturing my attention is seeing the name "Leon Russell", and trying to turn that guy into what Leon Russell looked like in later years. You know--with the beard and long hair. I'm going to go back and look at some time progression photos. Maybe that will do it.
