Tom Malone (musician)

Thomas (Tom) "Bones" Malone (born June 16, 1947) is an American jazz musician, arranger and producer. As his nickname implies, he specializes on the trombone, but also plays trumpet, tuba, tenor sax, baritone sax, flutes, piccolo and other instruments.

He is famous for being a member of The Blues Brothers band, Saturday Night Live Band (served as leader of the band from 1981 to 1985), and a member of the CBS Orchestra, the house band for the Late Show with David Letterman.

Early life

Malone was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, Cdr. Odie Malone, was a US Navy pilot who survived Pearl Harbor. Tom graduated from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) along with fellow Blues Brothers bandmate Lou Marini. Both were members of the school's world-renowned One O'Clock Lab Band.

He began playing professionally as lead trumpet with Brenda Lee at a club in Jackson, Mississippi while enrolled at The University of Southern Mississippi. In response to a call from Warren Covington, leader of The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, he expanded into contracting musicians. After transferring to North Texas State University, Malone continued working as both a player and a contractor for a variety of groups.

Career

Upon graduation, Malone worked in bands of Woody Herman (1969), Duke Pearson (1970), Louie Bellson (1971), Doc Severinsen, Frank Zappa (1972) and Blood, Sweat & Tears (1973). In 1973, Malone began a close, 15-year association with Gil Evans, who exerted considerable musical influence on him. With Evans, Malone recorded seven albums and toured Europe, Japan and the Far East. In 1975, Malone toured with Billy Cobham, in 1976 with the Band.

In 1970 after he was heard performing with Ten Wheel Drive and Genya Ravan, he received a call from Saturday Night Live (SNL), a new and revolutionary, late-night comedy show on NBC. Malone arranged for the show from 1975 to 1985 and served as musical director from 1981 to 1985. A single SNL comedy skit which featured John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd mushroomed into The Blues Brothers; Malone wrote the chart for that first skit, then continued as an integral member of the Blues Brothers musical organization. His writing and performance may be found on all Blues Brothers recordings and in The Blues Brothers film score. In the movie he appears as a fictionalized version of himself. In 1993, Malone reunited with SNL veterans Paul Shaffer (keyboards), and Will Lee, (bass), in the CBS Orchestra. In 1997, Blues Brothers 2000 and the film score includes considerable contribution by Malone.

Malone joined the CBS Orchestra on November 1, 1993, and has contributed more than 1,600 arrangements to the Late Show.

As a studio musician, he has been heard on more than 1,000 records, more than 3000 radio and television commercials and over 4,000 live television shows. Malone has also played themes for CBS This Morning, Murder, She Wrote and the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, all on the CBS Television Network. His solo album, Soul Bones, features guest appearances by Paul Shaffer and Blues Traveler's John Popper.

Malone's additional feature film credits include The Last Waltz, Blues Brothers 2000 and Sister Act.

In 2007 Malone was invited by Music Director Geoffrey Moull to arrange and perform a concert with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. In 2011 Malone was guest artist with the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

He frequently performs with Beatles tribute band the Fab Faux (as part of the Hogshead Horns) along with fellow CBS Orchestra member Will Lee. He frequently plays with the Blues Brotherhood, a Blues Brothers tribute band based in Pennsylvania.

Discography

• 1992: Standards of Living
• 1998: Soulbones

As sideman

With Gil Evans

• The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix (RCA, 1974)
• There Comes a Time (RCA, 1975)
• Live at Sweet Basil (Gramavision, 1984)
• Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 2 (Gramavision, 1984)

With Stanley Turrentine

• The Man with the Sad Face (Fantasy, 1976)

Associated artists

Malone has played with, arranged for, and/or recorded with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, The Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Gil Evans, Frank Zappa, Billy Cobham, The Band, James Brown, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Al Jarreau, Ashford & Simpson, Average White Band, Baja Men, Barry Manilow, BB King, BeeGees, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Billy Preston, Clint Black, Bobby Bland, Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Tyler, Boz Skaggs, Buddy Rich, Carly Simon, Cee-Lo Green, Chaka Kahn, Chuck Mangione, Cyndi Lauper, Count Basie, David Bowie, David Byrne, David Sanborn, Diana Ross, Dr. John, Earth, Wind & Fire, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Palmieri, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Faith Hill, 50 Cent, Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Garth Brooks, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, George Clinton, Gloria Estefan, Gloria Gayner, Hank Crawford, Hanson, Harry Connick, Jr., Hector LaVoe, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, J. Geils Band, James Taylor, Jeff Beck, Jennifer Hudson, Jimmy Cliff, Jimmy Page, Joe Cocker, Joe Jackson, Johnny Mathis, John Mayer, Johnny Taylor, Jose Feliciano, Joss Stone, The Killers, Leo Sayer, Les & Larry Elgart, Levon Helm, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Little Milton, Little Richard, Lou Reed, Lou Rawls, Louis Bellson, Luther Vandross, Mandrill, Martha & The Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Meatloaf, Meco, The Meters, Michael Brecker, Miles Davis, Mongo Santamaria, Nancy Wilson, ‘N Sync, Neville Brothers, The O’Jay’s, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Metheney, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, Phil Collins, Phil Woods, Pink Floyd, Pointer Sisters, Ralph MacDonald, Randy Brecker, Randy Newman, Rick Danko, Ringo Starr, Robert Plant, Ron Carter, Rubin Blades, Rupert Holmes, Sam & Dave, Samantha Sang, Saturday Night Live, Sheena Easton, Shirley Bassey, Solomon Burke, Snoop Dog, The Spinners, Spyro Gyra, Stanley Clark, Stanley Turrintine, Stephanie Mills, Steely Dan, Steve Winwood, Sting, Stuff, The Stylistics, The Supremes, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, Tina Turner, Tom Petty, Tom Scott, Tony Bennett, Usher, Van McCoy, Van Morrison, Vicki Sue Robinson, Village People, Vince Gill, Whitney Houston, Willie Colon, Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, Woody Herman, Jaroslav Jakubovič and many others.

External links

• Tom Malone profile at AllAboutJazz.com