I just found out that Tommy Wells passed away a couple of months ago. I know it's late but I'd like to express my deepest condolences to his family, his friends and to the many musicians who will miss him. This is an obituary that was published shortly after his passing:
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Tonight the Nashville community is grieving the loss of professional session drummer Tommy Wells who was so loved and respected by this tight knit music community.
Tommy Wells came to Nashville in 1977 after attending Berklee College of Music in Boston and spent the first seven years of his professional musical life in Detroit. He came to Nashville to tour with Gene Cotton and American Ace and that led to him never leaving and his fantastic and happy gig as a session player in Music City.
Tommy has played on recordings by The Statler Brothers, Roy Clark, Jonathon Edwards, Jimmy Hall, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Lynn Anderson, Charley Pride, Dan Seals, B.J. Thomas, Riders in the Sky and Kathy Mattea, Ricky Van Shelton, Foster and Lloyd, Michael Martin Murphy, Ray Stevens, Don McLean, Gene Cotton, RPM, Jo-el Sonnier, Holly Dunn, among many others.
Tommy had made regular appearances on TV shows such as: Nashville Now, Music City Tonight, and Prime Time Country.
Tommy was a huge Hockey Fan and one of the best drummers in Nashville. People are flocking to his Facebook page tonight offering condolences and saying goodbye.
The word that is going through the Facebook community is that Tommy died in his sleep last night. Tommy leaves behind his wife Carolyn and a son and a community of musicians who are shocked, saddened and in disbelief over his sudden departure. Rest in Peace Tommy. You are already missed by many.
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Here is just a small sample of what a rock-solid and creative drummer Tommy was. The music was better for his playing.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNTUUyANcsI[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2_H1D5KWJw[/ame]
I only have one CD in my car. It's Tommy playing with Jack Pearson and Jimmy Hall. They are my all-time favorite Blues band and more importantly, some of my favorite players. Tommy's playing, to me, is the epitome of all that a great drummer needs to be. I have listened to those tracks a hundred times, Tommy's drumming -floors me- each and every time I hear him play. I'll post up some more vids as I find them. I'm looking for the Jimmy Hall stuff. Tommy at his Blues drumming best!
Anybody else who wishes to express their condolences is invited to do it here. What a loss to the drumming community. Tommy wasn't that old. There was a lot more he could have done and given us musically. So sad.
John
