Tommy McGee A Blast From The Past
What is interesting about life is never knowing if the path that you have chosen will alter. Tommy McGee is an old school R&B musician, entertainer and recording artist who roamed the entertainment scene in Grand Rapids and throughout the Midwest during the 60s, 70s and 80s. He performed and recorded with his soul funk group The TMG's Band and went solo recording his first album when he met Producer Palmer James who jump started the career of legendary soul singer Al Green. Tom unintentionally formed his own label TMG Records in 1963, and he would write and produce, and put out records on it whenever other labels picking up his music never properly promoted them or released them. It was thought he had found the right outlet when the Major music giant Mercury Records released his single "I'm A Stranger" only to be let down, and then he signed with another giant label Brunswick Records to encounter the same. His song "Now That I Have You" was picked up by the multiplatinum Producer Jeff Lane of American Dream Records and for the lack of promotions the song did not prevail. He had a quick bout when LA International distributed his women's equal rights song "She's Got Her E.R.A."
He held faith in his dream and continued releasing several records but achieving the height of commercial success as his predecessor Al Green and a few other locals eluded him. He wasn't dispirited about his rollercoaster career and slid behind the scenes to managing Rap Artist Robert S with his Epic Records release of "Big Words" and the local R&B Artist "The Rytz" with their TMG Profile single, "Didn't I Not." He thought LA would give his TMG label a boost and he laid down the microphone and set up shop in the North Hollywood area and went on to distribute on his TMG Street Pride label the fame R&B artist Raven Symone's single "With A Child's Heart" and her album "Undeniable" through the Mercury Universal outlet and released her TMG compilation album "From Then Until" through Malaco Records. Tom also released on his TMG Grace imprint the Stella Award Nomination album "Comin Home" by the legendary gospel artist Twinkie Clark. He picked up distribution for TMG with Warner Music Group and released the old school multiplatinum R&B artist LTD. Also, with the advance of technology dramatically changing the industry, Tom's experience is called on by the young music promoter Mike Matthews who launched DigitalRadioTracker to monitor and detect songs streaming at radio and other platforms streaming music.
McGee's health took a turn and he returned home to Grand Rapids to undergo treatment for Cancer and to finish working on his Memoir titled, Tommy McGee & The TMG's Soul Band "My Journey In Entertainment." And, just as he thought that he had forgotten about his old records lying in crates or some way-wood basements and garages; along came The Numero Group out of Chicago taking an interest to reissue his 1976 "PositiveNegative" LP. Numero put together a special 2-x vinyl LP compilation titled "Tommy McGee I'm A Stranger" which included the LP and songs by The TMG's. Tom's song "Make You Happy" was sampled by the multi-platinum Producer Q-Tip and flipped it to "Best Life" on Detroit's Rapper Danny Brown. It was amazing to see the rapper perform his single with the soulful groove of Tom's song on NBC's Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. To Make You Happy was featured on the soundtrack of FX Season 2 THE BEAR. It aired in the backdrop scene of the rising actress Ayo Edebiri eating an ice cream Sundae. The show won 10 Emmys and 4 Golden Globe Awards, and for Tom's old fans it resurrected a renewed interest in his music, furthering the song to hit the #76 spot on The DRT Global Top 150 Independent Airplay Chart Tom was also featured in the Film Documentary Rhythm & Race: History Of African American Music In Grand Rapids that was produced by the students of WMCAT [West Michigan Center For Arts & Technology].
Looking at it from that perspective it can be said that Tommy McGee may be an old G but his music remains timeless.
Tagged in: