Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Tedesco
Tedesco in 1979
Tedesco in 1979
Background information
Birth nameThomas Joseph Tedesco
Born(1930-07-03)July 3, 1930
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
OriginLos Angeles
DiedNovember 10, 1997(1997-11-10) (aged 67)
Northridge, California, U.S.
GenresJazz fusion, rock, pop, soundtrack
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, teacher
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1950s–1990s
LabelsDiscovery, Capri

Thomas Joseph Tedesco (July 3, 1930 – November 10, 1997) was an American guitarist and studio musician in Los Angeles and Hollywood.[1] He was part of the loose collective of the area's leading session musicians later popularly known as The Wrecking Crew, who played on thousands of studio recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, including several hundred Top 40 hits.

Tedesco's playing credits include the theme from television's Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, Vic Mizzy's theme from Green Acres, M*A*S*H, Batman, and Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special. Tedesco was shown on-camera in a number of game and comedy shows, and played ex-con guitarist Tommy Marinucci, a member of Happy Kyne's Mirth-Makers, in the 1977–78 talk-show spoof Fernwood 2 Night and America 2 Night.[2]

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Biography of Tommy Tedesco". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Tommy Tedesco; Preeminent Studio Guitarist". Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1997.