Tommy Tedesco

BMHOF Class of 1996

Born in Niagara Falls in 1930, Tommy Tedesco was one of the most successful session guitarists in music history. His guitar lines helped create the California sound. When you listen to Jan & Dean or The Beach Boys, there is a good chance you are hearing Tommy Tedesco. During the 60's and 70's he also recorded with Frank Zappa, Cher, Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald and many more artists. He is possibly on more albums, of all styles of music, then any other session guitarist. 

Tedesco played the themes to the TV shows; The Twilight Zone, The Mickey Mouse Club, Bonanza, Green Acres and MASH. He also played on the music for many movies including, The Deer Hunter, The Godfather and Field of Dreams. 

In addition to performing Tommy Tedesco was an influential music educator, writing the instructional - For Guitar Players Only: Short Cuts in Technique, Sight Reading and Studio Playing. He also wrote two books, "Tommy Tedesco - Confessions of a Guitar Player" and "Anatomy of a Guitar Player"
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Tommy passed away on November 10, 1997, but the guitar lines he created will live forever.