Tom McGrath
Lecturer in Music (Percussion)
Percussionist Tom McGrath has a diverse performance background including jazz trios/duos,big bands, contemporary folk groups, modern dance companies, and rhythm & blues bands. Before relocating to Central New York, he owned and operated Tom-Tom Recording Studio in Manhattan, where he recorded, performed with and/or produced a variety of musicians and singer songwriters. This included artists such as Jeremy Wall (Spyra Gyra); Art Garfunkel; drum set artists Max Roach, Ginger Baker and Marvin “Smitty” Smith; composers John Cage and Louis St. Louis; choreographers Mimi Garrard and David Parker; contemporary folk duo, Minus Ted, and the cello/percussion duo, CelloVision. McGrath has performed with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Count Basie trumpeter Joe Wilder, rappers Melle Mel and Afrika Bambaataa, as well as Joe Cocker, B.B. King, the Stray Cats and the rhythm and blues group, Mtume. McGrath has composed music for films, podcasts, and modern dance. He has released two percussion-driven recordings: Pictures at The Family House and Ten Shades of Blue.
McGrath performs throughout Central New York with the trio MOJOTO and Monk Rowe & the 5 Families Ensemble.
