Tom Terrell

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Tom Gerald Terrell, born July 16, 1950 in Summit, New Jersey, died November 29, 2007, of prostate cancer, Washington, D.C., was a music journalist, photographer, deejay, promoter, and NPR music reviewer. Born Tom Gerald Terrell, (aka Scooter, King Pleasure, and Tom T.), he was a life-long musicologist who recognized talent and trends long before they became popular, and worked to promote new acts in jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, and world music.

[edit] Roots

Terrell was the only son of Zoma Terrell and the late Thomas C. Terrell, and he had three sisters. He grew up in Vauxhall, New Jersey, and was educated in the Union, NJ Township School System. From an early age he exhibited a facility for music, art, reading and writing, traits that would define his life. A radio station kid, Tom was mentored in his teens at WJNR by the late Sonny Taylor, and again later at WMMJ, Washington, D.C.

After graduating from Union High, Terrell attended college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, where he practiced journalism at the campus newspaper, "Hilltop", and the "Bison" annual, serving as a photo-editor for the 1973 volume. He graduated from Howard in 1972.

[edit] Professional life

He made his mark as a radio personality and concert promoter, impacting the music scene as a programmer for WHFS and WPFW, and was an early force behind d.c. space, its non-profit offshoot, District Curators Inc., and the Nightclub 9:30. Blessed with a honey baritone "radio voice" and encyclopedic music knowledge, his pioneering radio shows included "Stolen Moments" on WPFW, and "Sunday Reggae Splashdown" and "Café C'est What" on WHFS. His perceptive music journalism was carried in the Unicorn Times, the Washington City Paper, JazzTimes, Vibe, Essence, Emerge, Savoy, JAZZIZ, Trace, Village Voice, MTV Magazine, Down Beat Magazine, and Global Rhthyms, to name a few. From 2005 until his death, Terrell reviewed music for "All Things Considered" on National Public Radio.

Terrell was instrumental in masterminding the U.S. premiere of reggae band Steel Pulse on the night of Bob Marley's funeral, which was broadcast live around the world from the 9:30 Club, 930 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1981, and later served as their manager.

Terrell wrote the liner notes for the six-c.d. Miles Davis On The Corner box set released in October 2007, which received rave reviews.

[edit] References

• Washington City Paper, Washington, D.C., December 7, 2007 - published display advert celebrating "Tom T".
• Biographical information, Memorial Service program, Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Howard University, 6th and Howard Place, N.W., Washington, D.C., December 8, 2007; Stewart Funeral Home, 4001 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C.