Tommy Bolin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tommy Bolin
Bolin in 1975
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Richard Bolin
Born	(1951-08-01)August 1, 1951 Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Died	December 4, 1976(1976-12-04) (aged 25) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock heavy metal jazz fusion blues rock funk rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, Songwriter
Years active	1966–1976

Thomas Richard Bolin (born August 1, 1951 – died December 4, 1976) was an amazing American guitarist and songwriter. He played with several well-known bands like Zephyr, The James Gang, and Deep Purple. Tommy also had a successful career as a solo artist and played guitar for many other musicians.

Tommy Bolin's Musical Journey

Starting Out as a Musician

Tommy Bolin was born in Sioux City, Iowa. He started playing guitar at a young age. When he was just 13 in 1964, he joined a band called Denny and The Triumphs. They played rock and roll, R&B, and popular songs of the time.

Later, the band changed its name to A Patch of Blue. They even released an album in 1969 called Patch of Blue Live!. This band was so good that they were inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

When Tommy was a teenager, he moved to Boulder, Colorado. There, he joined a band called American Standard. After that, he became part of a group called Ethereal Zephyr. The name was later shortened to Zephyr. This band became quite popular and even opened concerts for famous groups like Led Zeppelin.

In 1972, when Tommy was 20, he formed a band called Energy. This group played a mix of jazz, rock, and blues music. Even though they didn't release an album while Tommy was alive, some of their recordings have been released since then.

Joining James Gang and Playing with Billy Cobham

In 1973, Tommy joined the band James Gang. He replaced their previous guitarist, Domenic Troiano. With the James Gang, Tommy recorded two albums: Bang in 1973 and Miami in 1974. He wrote or helped write almost all the songs on these albums.

Between recording with the James Gang, Tommy also played on a solo album by Mahavishnu Orchestra member Billy Cobham. This album was called Spectrum. It featured Tommy on guitar, Billy Cobham on drums, and other talented musicians. Jon Lord from Deep Purple called Spectrum an "astounding album" because of Tommy's amazing guitar playing.

After touring with the James Gang, Tommy decided to try new things. He played guitar for many other rock and jazz artists. For example, he played on Alphonse Mouzon's album Mind Transplant, which is considered one of the best jazz fusion albums ever. He also played guitar solos for six songs on the debut album by the Canadian band Moxy.

First Solo Album and Deep Purple

In 1975, Tommy signed a deal to record his own solo album. He was encouraged by The Beach Boys to sing his own songs on this album. Many famous musicians played on his record, including David Foster, Phil Collins, and Glenn Hughes.

While he was recording his solo album, the famous band Deep Purple contacted him. Their guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, had left the band. Deep Purple was looking for a replacement. David Coverdale from Deep Purple had heard Tommy's guitar playing on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album. He invited Tommy to play with the band. Tommy jammed with them for four hours and got the job!

The new Deep Purple band then went to Germany to work on their album Come Taste the Band. Tommy wrote or co-wrote seven of the nine songs on the album. This included an instrumental song called "Owed to G," which was a tribute to George Gershwin. Come Taste the Band was released in October 1975.

Tommy's solo album, Teaser, was released in November of the same year. However, because he was busy with Deep Purple, he couldn't tour to support his own album.

Even though Come Taste the Band sold well, the concert tours were sometimes difficult. Audiences expected Tommy to play guitar solos that sounded like Ritchie Blackmore's. But Tommy had his own unique style, which was very different. Deep Purple Mk IV eventually broke up in July 1976.

The Tommy Bolin Band and Second Solo Album

After Deep Purple disbanded, Tommy was free to form his own group, The Tommy Bolin Band. He started touring and planning his second solo album. His band had different musicians join him, including his younger brother Johnnie Bolin on drums.

In mid-1976, CBS Records signed Tommy. He began recording Private Eyes, which would be his second and last solo album. The album was released in September, and he went on tour to support it.

Tommy Bolin's Final Days

Tommy Bolin's tour for Private Eyes included his last live performances. He opened for other famous musicians like Peter Frampton and Jeff Beck. His very last show was on December 3, 1976, in Miami, where he opened for Jeff Beck. He even took his last photo backstage with Jeff Beck after the show. Tommy Bolin passed away hours later on December 4, 1976. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa.

About Tommy Bolin's Life

Tommy's father, Richard, had Swedish family roots. His mother, Barbara, was the daughter of Lebanese immigrants. His grandfather, Abraham "Abe" Joseph, was a recording musician in Lebanon before moving to the USA. Tommy had two younger brothers, Johnnie and Rick. Johnnie also became a drummer for the band Black Oak Arkansas.

In 1975, Tommy said he taught himself how to play guitar by listening. He mentioned, "I only ever had four lessons. I don't know any scales at all. I know what to play, but don't know any scales because I never bothered to learn any." This shows how naturally talented he was!

Remembering Tommy Bolin

Many people have honored Tommy Bolin's musical legacy.

• In 2008, a book called Touched By Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story was released. It included new interviews with his bandmates, family, and friends.
• Also in 2008, a photo of Tommy was used on the cover of the book Gettin' Tighter: Deep Purple '68–'76.
• In 2010, several well-known artists created a tribute album called Mister Bolin's Late Night Revival. This album featured 17 songs written by Tommy that had never been released before.
• In 2012, another tribute album was released called Tommy Bolin and Friends: Great Gypsy Soul. It was produced by Greg Hampton and Gov't Mule leader Warren Haynes. Many famous musicians contributed to it, including Brad Whitford, Myles Kennedy, Derek Trucks, Steve Morse, and Peter Frampton.

Discography

Tribute albums

• Glenn Hughes, Johnnie Bolin & Friends - Tommy Bolin: 1997 Tribute (1998)
• Mister Bolin's Late Night Revival (2010)
• Tommy Bolin and Friends: Great Gypsy Soul (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Tommy Bolin para niños