Tommy Mars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tommy Mars (real name Tommy Mariano) is a keyboard player, best known for his work with Frank Zappa.

Born in Connecticut, U.S.A., Mars began piano lessons at age six, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars graduated in 1972 from the Hart College of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. From there he stuggled to hold a variety of musical jobs including choirmaster, church organist, movie accompanist and more. In a 1980 interview in Keyboard Magazine, Mars described one of the more unusual jobs he had as follows - "I was working in this revolving organ bar in Kodiak, Alaska, with Japanese and Russian fishermen kicking me in the back if I couldn't play an ethnic folk song to their drunken satisfaction".

A fan of Frank Zappa, Mars was asked to audition for Zappa's band with the help of percussionist Ed Mann, also a member of Zappa's group. 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 Steve Vai or Stuart Hamm. In mid 1990's, Mars formed The Band From Utopia, a group consisting of 10 Zappa band alumni, performing Zappa's music as a tribute band.