Tommy West
editEarly Life and Musical Beginnings
editBorn Thomas Picardo, August 1942, in Jersey City, NJ, Tommy West is a record producer, singer-songwriter, and has been a successful creative force in the music industry since 1968. West is a 1963 graduate of Villanova University.
His career as a performing artist began in 1958 when he co-founded with Tim Hauser the "doo-wop" group, the Criterions. In 1959, the group hit the pop charts with "I Remain Truly Yours."
While attending Villanova, he became student conductor of the school's glee club, The Villanova Singers. In 1961, he auditioned fellow student Jim Croce for the singers and an enduring friendship was formed. Croce and West were also soloists in "The Spires", a 12-man folk chorus.
After graduating in 1963, West became a radio announcer and music director of WRLB-FM in Long Branch, New Jersey. In 1966, he left the station and began work for ABC Records in New York, where he met Terry Cashman and Gene Pistilli, fledgling songwriters at the company. This trio, Cashman, Pistilli & West, began a writing and performing collaboration. In 1967, they recorded an album titled "Bound To Happen."
West also became a highly sought after session singer and sang back-up vocals on albums by Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Jr., Connie Francis, and Mitch Ryder. He was also a jingle singer and sang on major radio and television commercials.
In 1968, Cashman, Pistilli & West signed with Capitol Records and recorded an album titled "Cashman, Pistilli & West," produced by Nik Venet. Simultaneously, they recorded under the pseudonym The Buchanan Brothers. This trio is remembered for the hit single "Medicine Man." Also that year, they formed Interrobang Productions, Blendingwell Music, and Sister John Music, music publishing companies. They signed folk duo Jim and Ingrid Croce and secured a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1969, turning production duties over to Nik Venet for their album "Croce." The album was released, but was not well received.
In 1969, Cashman, Pistilli and West were introduced to a talented young musician, Maury Muehleisen. Soon after they signed Muehleisen, Gene Pistilli left the partnership and became a founding member of the Manhattan Transfer, joining up with West’s lifelong hometown friend Tim Hauser.
Cashman & West produced Muehleisen’s album titled "Gingerbreadd," released by Capitol Records in November 1970. This critically well received album was a catalyst in bringing together Muehleisen with Jim Croce, who for a short time accompanied Maury on guitar for live performances. The combination of Croce and Muehleisen produced an enduring sound captured by the production techniques of West and Cashman.
Also at this time, Cashman & West began an association with producer Wes Farrell and composed eight songs that were recorded by The Partridge Family: "She'd Rather Have The Rain," "Only A Moment Ago," "Every Song Is You," "One Day At A Time," "Come On Love," "Sunshine Eyes," "It Sounds Like You're Saying Hello," "It's Time That I Knew You Better."
Success with Jim Croce
editIn 1971, Cashman & West signed as artists with ABC-Dunhill and also started producing the first of three Jim Croce albums, "You Don’t Mess Around With Jim." Recorded in the Fall of 1971 and released in April 1972, this album catapulted the career of Jim Croce - producing three hit singles. Simultaneously, Cashman & West were on the charts with their first single, their tribute to New York City, the now classic "American City Suite."
In 1973, Cashman & West produced Croce’s "Life and Times" and "I Got A Name" albums. Croce and Muehleisen perished in a small plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana on September 20, 1973.
West and Cashman received five gold records for their work on Jim Croce’s hits - #1 singles "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time In A Bottle," and three albums (You Don’t Mess Around With Jim, Life and Times, and I Got A Name), which are now platinum.
Cashman & West went on to record two more albums for ABC-Dunhill, "Moondog Serenade" and "Lifesong."
Broad Ongoing Influence
editIn 1974, they produced records by Jim Dawson and Mary Travers. In 1975, they formed Lifesong Records and recorded singer-songwriter Henry Gross, who in 1976 had a million-selling single "Shannon." West also recorded "Hometown Frolics," his solo album.
In 1978, Cashman & West produced Dion’s "The Return of the Wanderer." West began recording in Nashville in 1978, producing an album by Gail Davies and beginning a five-album collaboration with Ed Bruce.
In 1984, West entered into a partnership with Mary Tyler Moore’s MTM Records, based in Nashville. Production credits during this time include hit recordings by Judy Rodman, Holly Dunn, and Girls Next Door.
West produced three #1 country singles - "You’re The Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had" with Ed Bruce; "Until I Met You" with Judy Rodman; and "Love Someone Like You" with Holly Dunn.
In 1992, Tommy West launched High Harmony Records. Its initial release, "Through The Raindrops," by harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio, remained on the Billboard New Age chart for nine months. The album also made the Top Twenty New Age year-end chart in Billboard and launched Bonfiglio’s success on the QVC Network, where his appearances generated over 200,000 units.
In 1993, Tommy West teamed up with pop country superstar Anne Murray and produced "Croonin’," a collection of classic pre-rock songs of the fifties. The album achieved double platinum status in Canada and had a substantial run on the American charts as well. "Croonin’" also received a coveted Canadian Juno award as best engineered pop recording of 1993.
In 1994, Tommy West produced "Kindred Spirits" with New Age pianist Andy Wasserman.
In 1996, West produced "Always On My Mind," a collection of pop standards with Robert Bonfiglio for Time-Life Records.
In 1997, West produced "Healing In The Dark" with acoustic rock duo Blonde on Blonde. He produced a Bonfiglio Christmas TV special for PBS called "Home For The Holidays."
In 1998, he produced "Playing God" with singer-songwriter Bob Hillman. A second album, "Welcome To My Century," was recorded in 2000.
In 1999, West again teamed up with Anne Murray and produced "What A Wonderful World," a two CD collection of inspirational and secular "message songs." This recording reached #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian chart, achieving double platinum status in the United States.
In 2000, West produced Susan Piper’s album, "The Truth Comes Out."
In 2001, West produced eight Christmas songs with Anne Murray as part of a project entitled "What A Wonderful Christmas."
In 2002, West produced "Country Croonin’," a thirty-song double CD of timeless country classics, which was certified gold in 2004 by the RIAA.
In 2004, West produced "All Of Me" with Anne Murray, a collection of pop standards from The American Songbook.
Tommy West continues to focus on new singer/songwriters and records many of his projects in his state of the art studio, "Somewhere In New Jersey."
Links
edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Muehleisen