Biography Tommy Campbell

Thomas W. „Tommy“ Campbell (* 14. Februar 1957 in Norristown (Pennsylvania)) is an American jazz drummer.

Campbell grew up outside of Philadelphia steeped in a musical environment, permeated with the notes of his father, an organist and singer, and his uncle, Jimmy Smith, the renowned Hammond B-3 virtuoso.

“I was surrounded by music from the time I was two years old. My father and drummer Mickey Roker would rehearse at the house a lot. Whenever Uncle Jimmy had a new record he was releasing, he’d come over with a prerelease copy. We would listen to it together as a family. I used to play along with those records for hours.”

Tommy attended the Berklee College of Music where he majored in instrumental performance (1979) and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.

He has been inspired by legendary drummers such as Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Max Roach, and Tony Williams.

He has performed as a regular member with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, The Manhattan Transfer, Kevin Eubanks, Stanley Jordan, Tania Maria, and Gary Burton, amongst others.

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