b. Thomas Wesley Stewart Jr., 19th November 1939, Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.A.
At the age of 10 Tommy Stewart was part of his High School marching band.
He taught in high school from 1961 to 1963 at Fayette High School in St. Clair County, Alabama.
Outside the school surroundings, Tommy also taught music.
In 1964 he was playing with Fred Wesley and members of the 55th Army band.
He wrote and composed for television and performed with Blue Note recording artist Duke Pearson.
By 1973 he arranged and composed a musical score called 'The Burning of Atlanta' for Buddha Records.
Following this release Tommy worked as an arranger, producer, performer or writer for various artists including Clarence Carter, Candi Staton, Johnnie Taylor, Major Lance, Eddie Kendricks, Luther Ingram, Millie Jackson, Flip Wilson, Roy Gaines, Tamiko Jones amongst others.
In 1976 Tommy released his solo album which included the rare groove 'Bump And Hustle Music'.
The song was recorded live, with live strings and horns recorded in the studio at the time.
Recorded, almost as a 'session after-thought' Tommy took the instrumental to Ardent Studios in Memphis and recorded the vocals with Hot Buttered Soul.
The album had a peach on the cover, which was a marketing vehicle that was intended to help album sales through the popular Peaches music chain.
The album became a 'sleeper' for several years until the rare groove scene picked up on the album during the late 1980's.
In the meantime Tommy Stewart was working with Loleatta Holloway and John Edwards, a vocalist for the Spinners who had solo releases out on Ace Records.
Thesedays Tommy is helping develop new R & B acts.
His regular live gigs are performed under the name the Tommy Stewart Orchestra.
Tommy is also a member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Albums:
The Spirit Of Atlanta - The Burning Of Atlanta (Buddah LP 1973)
Whole Darn Family - Has Arrived (Soul International LP 1976)
solo: Tommy Stewart - Same (Abraxas LP 1976)
Ripple Sons of the Gods (Salsoul LP 1977)
Luther Ingram (KoKo LP 1977)
Stevo - Musica Negra (Oliva Cantu LP 1978)
Opus 7 Opus 7 (MCA LP 1978)
Tommy Stewart and His Orchestra (Circle Records LP 1980)
Sil Austin + Tommy Stewart and His Orchestra (Circle Records LP 1981)
Hambone - Big Fat Juicy Fun (Salsoul LP 1981)
Solar Source - Now's The Time (AVI LP 1981)
Major Lance I Wanna Go Home (Columbia LP 1981)
