Tom Lonardo, born in Paris, Tn., comes from a musical family. He grew up in the family's music store - LONARDO PIANO COMPANY - and in his father's 10 piece dance band - Tom Lonardo & his Orchestra - "Tops In Dancing and Listening Pleasure". Tom has played drums for over 50 years. He holds a BM and MM from The University of Mississippi and attended The Berklee School of Music. He studied with Alan Dawson, but is mostly "self-taught". He was elected into the Ole Miss Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991 and in 2011 recieved the Life Time Achievement award from The Memphis Musical Heritage Foundation. Tom likes to play the drum set every night somewhere...usually around Memphis.
Since the late 1960's, he has worked with many local, area and national bands including Phase II, The Tom Ferguson Trio, The Royal American Showmen, The Mississippians, George Coleman, Groove Holmes, Kay Starr, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Jack McDuff, Marvin Stamm, Bo Diddley, Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Ralphael Simms, Bob Dorough, The Checkmates, The Diamonds, The Tony Thomas Trio, Edwin Hubbard and Prana, T.O. Earnheart, Andy Goodwrench, Gene Rush, Back Swing, Hot Cotton, Dog Police, Di Anne Price and Her Boyfriends, Bill Easley, Gary Johns & Friends, Ed Vodika, The Charlie Wood Trio, Tom Fisher, K. C. Ray, Jim Dickinson, and The Jumpin' Chi-Chis. He is the captain of DOG POLICE!
Tom can be heard on recordings by The Tony Thomas Trio, Di Anne Price, Casey Lipe, Jim Dickinson, Gary Johns, Kallen Esperian, Ed Finney, Tim McCarver, Jim Johnson, Eden Brent, Ruby Wilson, The Memphis Horns, Dog Police, Waddy Mitchell, Jim Shearer, Marvin Stamm, Willie Toliver, The Bar-Kays, The Ole Miss Jazz Band, The Memphis Symphony, Tom Sanders, Terry Thompson, Edwin Hubbard, Charlie Wood, Sam Shoup, and over 10,000 Jingles!
Around town Tom plays with Di Anne, Gary, Marcella, Charlie, Dr. Bill Hurd, Breeze Cayole, The Opus One Orchestra, Kallen Esperian, Rene Koopman, Susan Marshall, Jim Spake, Tim Goodwin, Joe Restivo, Gene Rush, Eddie Harrison, Gary Topper, Ed Finney, Steven Lee, Sam Shoup, and Tony Thomas.
Sometimes he is the drummer for the great Mose Allison. When Mose comes to the Mid South, they usually play Memphis, Oxford, and Jackson , Ms. or maybe The Bluebird in Nashville or a festival in Hot Springs. In 2007 they played Morgan Freeman's GROUND ZERO Blues club in Clarksdale. In 2008 they played the University of Arkansas and to a packed house at Karen Carrier's AUTOMATIC SLIM'S in Memphis! In 2010 it was a festival in Ridgeland, MS. and Sunday night at The Beauty Shop in Memphis. Rhodes College was the setting in February 2011.
Tom teaches percussion, music theory, and Music Media at Southwest Tennessee Community College and Jazz History at the University of Memphis. He is endorsed by Jim Pettit and the Memphis Drum Shop.