Tommy West (1942-2021) Producer
Tommy West (1942-2021) Producer
Tommy West
BIRTH 17 Aug 1942
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA
DEATH 2 May 2021 (aged 78)
Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, USA
BURIAL Burial Details Unknown
American record produce
Musician, Songwriter, Producer. Along with Terry Cashman, he formed the prolific music duo “Cashman and West.” They will be remembered for their highly-successful collaborations with Jim Croce. Born Thomas Picardo Jr. into an Italian family, he was raised in Neptune, New Jersey.
He began his singing career with the doo-wop ensemble “The Criterions” which included Tim Hauser who would go on to form the “Manhattan Transfer.” They recorded the single “I Remain Truly Yours” (1959) and with the aid of disc jockey Alan Freed, the song achieved a measurable amount of success.
They also performed on Freed’s TV program “The Big Beat.” The group separated after the members went off to college. West enrolled at Villanova University and during this period, he met and friended Jim Croce. Following graduation, he worked as an announcer at a New Jersey radio station and changed his name to Tommy West.
Tommy West Producer (1942-2021)
He went on to work at ABC Radio in New York and during this period, he met Terry Cashman and Gene Pistilli with who he formed a singing, songwriting and production trio which resulted in the recording of the folk-pop album “Bound to Happen” (1967). In 1968, they signed on with Capitol label and recorded the album “Cashman, Pistilli and West.”
Cashman and West formed the project “The Buchanan Brothers” and under that name, they recorded the single “Medicine Man (Part One)” which achieved a number twenty-two placing on the American Pop Charts in 1969. During this period, Cashman and West joined forces with producer Wes Farrell on several “Partridge Family” recordings.
From 1969 until Jim Croce’s death in 1973, Cashman and West produced the singer’s albums beginning with “Jim and Ingrid Croce” (1969). Additionally, West contributed musically with guitar and keyboard work. Other albums the pair produced of Croce’s include “Don’t Mess With Jim” (1972), “Life and Times” (1973) and “I Got a Name” (1973). The singles “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” (1973) and “Time In a Bottle” (1974) both achieved number one placings on the American Pop Charts and gold record status.
In 1972, Cashman and West achieved a Top 30 hit with “American City Suite” which charted at number twenty-seven. Following Croce’s death, Cashman and West produced for Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) and established a record label with singer and songwriter Henry Gross called Life Song.
West would go on to a solo career as a producer after relocating to Nashville and work with such artists as Gail Davies and Ed Bruce. During the 1990s, he worked with singer Anne Murray. He died of complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)
Top Queries, Keyword
Tommy West grave, Tommy West Find a grave, where is Tommy West buried, Tommy West buried, Tommy West gravesite, Tommy West death, Tommy West age, find a grave Tommy West, Tommy West net worth Tommy West, Tommy West Birth, Tommy West burial, Tommy West grave, Tommy West funeral, Tommy West (1942-2021)