Bio | Tom Read Bass
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BIOGRAPHY

My first paid gig was at Sharston Labour Club, Wythenshawe, Manchester, a week after my 16th birthday.  My dad Roger was on organ, and Mike Delaney on drums.  That began several years of sight-reading, backing cabaret acts, usually with my dad on keyboards and with Kevin Christie, and then my brother Will on drums.
 
We did some holiday camp summer seasons together, but it was the first time I went off on my own that proved the most significant and life-defining.  I arrived at Pontin's Plemont Bay on Jersey on my 20th birthday after the overnight ferry - and met my future wife Marianne at the breakfast table!
 
We have two adult sons, Jimmy and Liam.  Jimmy was a decent piano player while at school but didn't want to further that interest, preferring to focus on his mathematics, amateur radio and hillwalking.
 
Liam is a fine vocalist, compere and radio presenter.  http://www.liamreadband.co.uk  

I enjoy and appreciate all musical genres, and like to try and maintain a wide variety of different types of gigs if possible.  For personal listening, I tend towards either hard rock or modern jazz.  It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that I am a huge Frank Zappa fan and own virtually his entire discography.

 

If I was to nominate a favourite gigging genre, it would have to be Motown.  I love to play those basslines, mind you, what bass player doesn't?

 

My recent live gigging work has included the following (please see my Links page for more information):

  • Joe Longthorne

  • Serious Hat Band

  • Sixties Gold Tour

  • The Mindbenders

  • Steve Ellis

  • Funktion & Co.

  • Rose Marie

  • Biscuit Brothers

  • Simon Faulkner Band

  • "That's What Friends Are For" show, Blackpool, with Darren Day.

  • Motown Gold

  • Sophie Garner Band

  • Matt Philips Soul & Motown Band

  • Andy Mudd Band (The songs of Billy Joel)

  • Castaways (reggae, ska, old skool)

  • Retrobeats (1960s, rock & roll)

  • Manatees (15 piece blues, soul, jazz & funk band)

  • Yellow Pad Band (bossa nova, Latin jazz)

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Please see the testimonials from respected colleagues in the music industry here.

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