Tom McGrath
Lecturer in Music (Percussion)
Tom McGrath's percussion performance background includes jazz quartets/trios; big band; contemporary folk; modern dance and contemporary percussion repertoire. From 1987-2005, he owned Tom-Tom Recording Studio, N.Y.C. where he performed with and/or produced a diversity of musicians and singer songwriters including, Jeremy Wall (Spyra Gyra); Art Garfunkel (Simon and Garfunkel); Max Roach, Ginger Baker and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie; composer, John Cage; choreographers Mimi Garrard and David Parker; and the contemporary folk duo, Minus Ted. Other associated live performances include Aretha Franklin; Count Basie trumpeter, Joe Wilder; influential rappers Melle Mel and Afrika Bambaataa while sharing stage performances with Joe Cocker, B.B. King, and the Stray Cats.
Tom was also a member of Lou Harrison’s Si Betty Gamelan Ensemble and percussionist with the Manhattan Ballet Company. His music can be heard on two percussion-driven recordings: “Pictures at The Family House” and “Ten Shades of Blue.”
