Tom Pomposello

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Tom Pomposello (July 17, 1949 – January 25, 1999) was an American roots musician, notably playing and recording with

Nick-at-Nite, and MTV.[2] He died in a car accident outside of Kingston, New York in January 1999.[3]

Early life

Born and educated on Long Island, New York, Pomposello had an early affinity towards music, eventually teaching himself the guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, mandolin, dulcimer, and dobro. Getting caught up in the pop music revolution that swept the world in the wake of The Beatles, he had a particular interest in blues-based English bands like The Animals and The Rolling Stones, which led to a lifelong passion for American blues.

After a brief thought of joining a seminary, Pomposello married young and had a son, Travis. Needing to earn a living without a college education, he teamed up with a close friend, Rob Witter, and opened a "

marijuana paraphernalia and concentrated instead on its owners' enthusiasm for the rise of the album era of music, rock and otherwise. Soon after the opening of the business, Pomposello earned his permanent stage name, "Honest" Tom Pomposello, when running for office as Huntington's Receiver of Taxes.[4]

Musical Career & Recording

Pomposello started flirting with the idea of recording his own music as early as 1970. He introduced himself to legendary

WKCR by host Fred Seibert.[5] The tapes eventually surfaced around the world on vinyl in 1972, when Pomposello and Seibert (with partner Dick Pennington) started Oblivion Records.[6] Originally conceived as a vehicle for Pomposello's music, the vision of the company expanded when the commercial potential of McDowell's final recording was considered.[7]

Four Oblivion releases later (he also produced and played the bass guitar on

R&B.[9]

In the early 1980s, Pomposello melded his performance abilities with his extensive musical scholarship. He toured of New York public high schools, under the auspices of BOCES of New York State (

Board of Cooperative Educational Services), teaching students the history of American blues. Simultaneously, he taught music as a professor at Five Towns College in Long Island, New York
.

Television Production

Tommy Boy Entertainment.[12]

After leaving Fred/Alan in 1989, Pomposello incorporated as Pomposello Productions, concentrating on advertising and television branding, and to pursue personal projects, working for

HBO Family, Turner Network Television (TNT), Cartoon Network, and Noggin
.

Pomposello recorded several albums in various blues oriented styles, focusing on his custom-made,[13] Mandolin Brothers dobro playing. Simultaneously, he was rediscovering his spiritual roots through the nuns of the Abbey of Regina Laudis, recording their first CD of Gregorian Chant.

Family

Tom Pomposello is survived by his third wife, Patricia Lawrence Pomposello, his son, Travis Pomposello and, his step son, Charles Lawrence.

References

  1. ^ Tom Pomposello, bass, 'Live in New York'
  2. ^ Tom Pomposello @ Fred/Alan Inc
  3. ^ "Tom Pomposello" Variety[1]
  4. ^ "Honest Tom Pomposello: Your Candidate for Receiver of Taxes. The Oblivion Records Blog [2]
  5. ^ "A very brief history of ‘Mississippi Fred McDowell > Live in New York’" The Oblivion Records Blog [3]
  6. ^ "A Very Brief History of Oblivion Records" The Oblivion Records Blog [4]
  7. ^ Seibert, Fred "A Very Brief History of Mississippi 'Fred McDowell > Live in New York'." The Oblivion Records Blog [5]
  8. ^ Seibert, Fred. “A Very Brief History of ‘’Honest Tom Pomposello’’”
  9. ^ ‘’Honest Tom Pomposello’’
  10. ^ Tom Pomposello @ The Fred/Alan Archive
  11. ^ Seibert, Fred "The doo-wopping of television, 1984-1992." The Fred/Alan Archive [6]
  12. ^ Seibert, Fred “We can’t meet Mr. Brown?!” The Fred/Alan Archive
  13. ^ "Tom Pomposello's guitar, Part 1". 23 March 2012.

External links

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