Tommy Mars
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Tommy Mars | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Thomas Mariano |
Born | 1951 (age 72–73) |
Origin | United States |
Occupation(s) | Instrumentalist |
Instrument(s) | Keyboard |
Years active | 1977–present |
Tommy Mars (born Thomas Mariano on October 26, 1951)[1] is an American keyboard player known for his work with Frank Zappa.
Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars graduated in 1972 from the
Knowing nothing about Zappa except for the songs "King Kong" and "Peaches en Regalia", Mars was asked to audition for Zappa's band with the help of percussionist Ed Mann, also a member of Zappa's group. Zappa hired Mars based on Mars' synthesizer expertise.[2] From 1977 to 1982 he was part of Zappa's touring band, appeared in the movie Baby Snakes, and recorded a number of Zappa albums.
After his work with Zappa, Mars alternated between teaching and touring with
In 2007
Spring 2009 saw the release of the 2005 recorded No Forest Fire: Tommy Mars together with The Band From Utopia members Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler, Kurt McGettrick, Larry Klimas, Arthur Barrow, and Vinnie Colaiuta.
In 2010 Tommy Mars recorded the surrealistic audio book Willie Nickerson's Egg, written by
References
- ^ "Frank Zappa has had such a varied career". Contemporary Keyboard. 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Touring can make synths crazy! - interview with Tommy Mars – 8th September 2011". September 8, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
External links
- The Hartt School - Alumni: Tommy Mars
- Reprint of 1980 interview, Keyboard Magazine
- Tommy Mars on MySpace