Tom Fowler (bassist)


Thomas William Fowler was an American bass guitarist. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he started playing the violin at age six, before picking up the upright bass, and finally electric bass at age 16. He played with It's a Beautiful Day, Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles, Steve Hackett, and many others. He had four brothers, including trombonist Bruce and trumpeter Walt Fowler.
Fowler also recorded albums with Air Pocket, a band including his siblings among others. Fowler died following complications from an aneurysm on July 2, 2024, at the age of 73.

Discography

With It's A Beautiful Day

Choice Quality Stuff/Anytime – 1971At Carnegie Hall – 1972

With Frank Zappa/The Mothers Of Invention

Over-Nite Sensation – 1973Apostrophe (') – 1974Roxy & Elsewhere – 1974One Size Fits All – 1975Bongo Fury – 1975Studio Tan – 1978The Old Masters Box III – 1987You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 – 1988The Lost Episodes – 1996Läther – 1996Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute – 1996Have I Offended Someone? – 1997Quadiophiliac – 2004One Shot Deal – 2008Understanding America – 2012Road Tapes, Venue 2 – 2013A Token of His Extreme – 2013Roxy by Proxy – 2014Roxy the Soundtrack – 2015The Crux of the Biscuit – 2016The Roxy Performances – 2018Zappa / Erie – 2022

With Air Pocket/The Fowler Brothers

Fly On – 1975Hunter – 1985Breakfast For Dinosaurs – 1988

With George Duke

I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry – 1975

With Jean-Luc Ponty

Aurora – 1976Imaginary Voyage – 1976

With Steve Hackett

Please Don't Touch! – 1978

With Bruce Fowler

Ants Can Count – 1990
  • “Entropy” - 1993

With Steve Fowler

Last Blue Sky – 1991

With Don Preston

Vial Foamy Ectoplasm – 1993

With Ray Charles

Ray Charles At The Olympia – 2004Ray – 2004Genius Loves Company – 2004

With Tom Fowler Interface

– 2011