Ross Tompkins


Ross Tompkins was an American jazz pianist who was a member of The Tonight Show Band.

Biography

Tompkins attended the New England Conservatory of Music, then moved to New York City, where he worked with Kai Winding, Eric Dolphy, Wes Montgomery, Bob Brookmeyer/Clark Terry, Benny Goodman, Bobby Hackett, and Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. He moved to Los Angeles in 1971, playing with Louie Bellson, Joe Venuti, and Red Norvo in the 1970s and Jack Sheldon in the 1980s.
He was best known for his longtime association with The [Tonight Show Band], led by Doc Severinsen, on the television program The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was a member of the band from 1971 until Carson's retirement in 1992. He recorded for Concord Jazz as a leader in the second half of the 1970s.
Tompkins died of lung cancer at the age of 68.

Discography

As leader

A Pair to Draw To Scrimshaw Live at Concord 1977 Lost in the Stars Ross Tompkins and Good Friends Festival Time Street of Dreams Solo Piano Celebrates the Music of Jule Styne Heart to Heart with Cathy Segal-GarciaRoss Tompkins Celebrates the Music of Harold Arlen
  • ''Younger than Springtime''

As sideman

With Kai WindingThe Great Kai & J. J. The Incredible Kai Winding Trombones Kai Olé Solo Israel with J. J. JohnsonStonebone with J. J. Johnson
With Doc Severinsen
With Tommy Newsom
With Louie Bellson
  • 1974 150 MPH
  • 1975 The [Louis Bellson Explosion]
  • 1976 Louie Bellson's 7
  • 1978 Louis Bellson Jam
  • 1978 Matterhorn
  • 1978 Prime Time
  • 1978 Raincheck
  • 1978 Sunshine Rock
  • 1995 Live at Concord Summer Festival
  • 1994 Cool Cool Blue
With Herb Ellis
  • 1975 A Pair to Draw To
  • 1975 Rhythm Willie
  • 1979 Soft & Mellow
  • 1979 Herb Ellis at Montreux
With Snooky YoungSnooky & Marshall's Album Horn of Plenty with John Collins, Ray Brown, and Jake Hanna.
With Bill Watrous
With Jack Sheldon
With others