contact

Dave Lodge, Brigadoon, 6 Romney Walk, Chadderton Oldham OL9 9BW.

Tel: 0161 652 9321...Mob:07946 442 604...Fax...0161 284 1303.

Email; dlodge@ntlworld.com

Tommy Bruce was perhaps one of the most unlikely success stories of the sixties. A happy- go- lucky lad working in Covent Garden fruit market, he had no thoughts of show business, until he met Barry Mason. Barry had contacts in the pop music world. He thought Tommy had the looks to do well so he asked him to make a demo disc. At first Tommy refused, Barry persisted, so Tommy relented saying that he only knew two songs, ‘ Why’ and ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’. That said the demo was made and taken up to Norrie Paramour, then recording manager of Colombia Records, he liked the unusual quality in Tommy’s voice. After consideration he set a rock-cha-cha arrangement to ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ and released the record in the spring of 1960. It shot into the charts, stayed in the top ten for sixteen weeks and – sold a million –Tommy Bruce had a Gold Disc and a career!

Along with Tommy’s recording contract, which incidentally resulted in four more Gold Discs, for Broken Doll, Lavender Blue, Babbette and Buttons and Bows, came bookings for summer season, the usual films all the boys made at the time, radio and television, all combining to make Tommy a star. Notable TV shows included ‘Six – Five – Special’, ‘Wham!’ ‘Thank – Your – Lucky – Stars’, and the one that was to make him a household name, ‘Stars and Garters’, appearing with Kathy Kirby, Vince Hill and Clinton Ford. This weekly show gave him the chance the chance to show his versatility. A natural and talented comedian, equally at home with ballads, rock songs and standards his vocal range being quite outstanding. These gifts allied with a degree of hard work saw him develope into an accomplished cabaret artiste, although Tommy always held fast to his sixties roots.

With the eighties came a revival of the sixties sound, once again Tommy Bruce was at the forefront. His bright and breezy enthusiastic style made it all appear as though the music was being sung for the first time. Touring and appearing with artistes such as Joe Brown, Marty Wilde, Billie Davis, Cliff Bennett and not forgetting Clem Cattini’s Tornado’s. In 1983 he was part of Stewart Henrys ‘Do You Remember’ concert to raise money for research into MS. Artistes also appearing included Bert Weedon, Jess Conrad, Del Shannon, Heinz and Screamin’ Lord Sutch. Sadly the last three are no longer with us. Tommy also took part in the ‘Heroes and Villains’ show filmed at the Dominion Theatre in the west end of London. This was one of the biggest selling rock videos ever made; all the proceeds went to charity.

Europe always played a big part in Tommy’s career; he has a large fan base there, venues in Malta, Germany and Spain are always happy to see Tommy Bruce.

Tommy still records, he has released five CD’s in the last couple of years. The RPM CD ‘That’s Rock and Roll’ is still available in the shops and on the Internet. In December 2001 things came full circle when Tommy received a standing ovation at the London Palladium. Just to put the icing on the cake, world sales of ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ led to Tommy receiving a Platinum Disc in the same year.

2006 two new CD’s are available, and the Musical Heritage has presented Tommy with an award to mark more than Forty years in show business. He has recently appeared as a celebrity guest on Mark Lamar’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Tommy Passed away 10^th July 2006. Sleep warm Tom. Dave Lodge.