News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

TOM HAMBRIDGE


BIO:
The arena rock group behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history, Boston was essentially the vehicle of studio wizard Tom Scholz, born March 10, 1947, in Toledo, OH. A rock fan throughout his teen years, he began writing songs while earning a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he began work for Polaroid, and set about constructing his own 12-track recording studio in the basement of his home, where demos were recorded that earned Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp a contract with Epic in 1975. Although some recording and overdubs were later done in Los Angeles, the 1976 release of Boston consisted largely of tapes recorded in Scholz's basement. (By then, the lineup had coalesced around Scholz, Delp, guitarist Barry Goudreau, bassist Fran Sheehan, and drummer John "Sib" Hashian.) Boston spawned three hit singles ("More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind"), and shot immediately to the top of the charts, remaining the best-selling pop debut effort in history before it was supplanted by Whitney Houston's first album in 1986. Despite the record's overwhelming success, Scholz spent over two years working on the follow-up, 1978's number one hit Don't Look Back; a perfectionist, he only then released the album because of intense label pressure for product. Unsatisfied with the results, he swore to produce the next album at his own pace; as a result, the chart-topping Third Stage did not appear until 1986, at which time only Scholz and Delp remained from the original lineup. Scholz spent the next several years in the courtroom: eventually, he won a seven-year battle against Epic, which claimed Boston had reneged on its contract by taking so long between releases. When the band resurfaced again in 1994 with Walk On, Scholz was the lone remaining member; Delp and Goudreau had reunited in 1992 as RTZ, releasing the album Return to Zero. Unlike previous returns, Walk On was a commercial failure. Radio and MTV ignored any attempts at singles or videos, and the minimalist approach taken by the popular alternative artists of the era made the crystalline production and lengthy recording time seem anachronistic. Taking another eight years to work on the next record, he targeted the Internet crowd first by releasing a single to /www.MP3.com in the summer of 2002. The track became the site's number one download, and word of their new album spread quickly. (Delp's return to the group also helped matters.) Secondly, Scholz set his lyrical sights on political targets, going so far as to title the record Corporate America as he emphasized his disdain for the system he had been a vital part of at one time. After releasing the record in the fall of that year, Boston embarked on a tour that took them into 2004. In March of 2007, however, Delp passed away in an incident later ruled suicide. In addition to his fame as a musician, Scholz also found success as an inventor and businessman. In 1981, he formed Scholz Research & Design, Inc., a company founded to create high-tech music equipment. After first developing the Power Soak, a volume-control device, SR&D introduced the Rockman, a small and inexpensive guitar amplifier with headphones. The Rockman proved phenomenally popular with other musicians, and the capital generated from its sales helped fund Scholz's further musical ambitions. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Latest Articles


Devon Allman Releases New Album 'Miami Moon' Feat. George Porter JR., Ivan Neville, & Photo Devon Allman Releases New Album 'Miami Moon' Feat. George Porter JR., Ivan Neville, & More
by Josh Sharpe - August 16, 2024

Devon Allman is thrilled to unleash Miami Moon, his first solo LP in 8 years. For the album, Allman put together one of the finest studio bands in recent history featuring George Porter JR. on bass, Ivan Neville on keyboards, Adam Deitch on drums, Karl Denson on saxophone, and Jackson Stokes on guit...

Devon Allman to Release New Album 'Miami Moon' ft. Photo Devon Allman to Release New Album 'Miami Moon' ft.
by Josh Sharpe - June 04, 2024

Devon Allman is thrilled to announce Miami Moon, his first solo LP in 8 years dropping August 16 via his own, Create Records. The first single from the new album “White Horse” and official music video will premiere exclusively via Relix this Thursday, June 6 before going wide on Friday, June 7.  ...

Fantasy Records Announces 25th Anniversary Edition of Susan Tedeschi's 'Just Won't Bu Photo Fantasy Records Announces 25th Anniversary Edition of Susan Tedeschi's 'Just Won't Burn'
by Michael Major - August 01, 2023

This special, 16-track expanded edition features the original album plus five previously unreleased bonus tracks: an alternate take of “Looking For Answers,” two new album outtakes, and two live versions of Just Won’t Burn album tracks recorded with Tedeschi Trucks Band at NYC’s Beacon Theatre....

Butcher, Baglio & Estes Announce Debut LP 'Gypsy Caravan' Photo Butcher, Baglio & Estes Announce Debut LP 'Gypsy Caravan'
by Michael Major - July 25, 2022

Soul-infused guitarist, songwriter, producer, Jon Butcher (Axis, Barefoot Servants) energetic rock guitarist and songwriter Sal Baglio (The Amplifier Heads, Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes, The Stompers), and legendary singer-songwriter, Allen Estes have joined forces to form a rock, soul, acoustic...

HOROJO Trio Featuring JW-Jones Announce Debut Album 'Set The Record' Photo HOROJO Trio Featuring JW-Jones Announce Debut Album 'Set The Record'
by Michael Major - February 08, 2022

HOROJO Trio already an award-winning soul-rocking rhythm and blues group before releasing any music, are now ready to Set The Record with the release of their debut album. The 11-track release also includes the new single & video, “Hard As I Can.' Watch the new music video now! ...

Alan Williams Premieres 'Anniston' With DittyTV - Watch It Now, New Album Out Aug 28
by Robert Diamond - August 19, 2020

Alan Williams released his debut single “Anniston” on August 14 - listen HERE. The video made its national broadcast debut on DittyTV, Monday, August 17 premiering on their “Rhythm Roots” channel at 7:00pm CT, with a rebroadcast on August 18 at 7:00am CT. ...

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Performs Live in Brooklyn Feb. 27 Photo Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Performs Live in Brooklyn Feb. 27
by Sarah Jae Leiber - January 30, 2020

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, the head-turning 20-year-old blues guitarist and vocalist from Clarksdale, Mississippi, will perform live at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Ingram is embarking on his second headlining tour, “Fish Grease 2: A Juke Joint Tour,” traveling acr...

Blues-Rock Master Coco Montoya Celebrates New Release With a Performance in Salt Lake Photo Blues-Rock Master Coco Montoya Celebrates New Release With a Performance in Salt Lake City!
by Sarah Jae Leiber - August 30, 2019

Coming In Hot features 11 songs by writers including Montoya and Dave Steen, Tom Hambridge and Richard Fleming, Warren Haynes, Frankie Miller, Jeff Paris, and Albert Collins. The tracks range from blistering, hard-rocking blues to potent shuffles to fervent, moving ballads. Montoya delivers each son...

Grammy-Nom Joe Bonamassa Releases REDEMPTION Photo Grammy-Nom Joe Bonamassa Releases REDEMPTION
by Tori Hartshorn - September 21, 2018

Two-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa returns today with his brand-new studio album, Redemption, available now via his own Record Label J&R Adventures. Stream/purchase the album at https://ffm.to/joebonamassaredemption....

Mike Zito Releases New CD, 'First Class Life' Photo Mike Zito Releases New CD, 'First Class Life'
by Tory Gates - August 27, 2018

'Being the best is not a possible thing; it's working hard.'...

Two-Time Grammy-Nominated Blues Rock Guitarist Joe Bonamassa Redefines Himself with N Photo Two-Time Grammy-Nominated Blues Rock Guitarist Joe Bonamassa Redefines Himself with New Studio Album
by Macon Prickett - June 27, 2018

Two-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa returns with a brand-new studio album, Redemption, which will be released on September 21st via his own Record Label J&R Adventures. As part of today's announcement, he shares the official music video for the hard-hitting title-track single 'R...

Joe Bonamassa Announces New Studio Album REDEMPTION Photo Joe Bonamassa Announces New Studio Album REDEMPTION
by Tori Hartshorn - June 27, 2018

Joe Bonamassa Announces New Studio Album REDEMPTION...

Shane Owens New Single '19' Impacting Country Radio Now
by Caryn Robbins - June 14, 2017

Shane Owens' patriotic tribute song, "19" will pull at your heartstrings. Arguably one of the best written songs about our military, the lyrics are a sobering reminder of the dangers our military members face every day....

Shane Owens To Make His Network Television Debut on FOX & FRIENDS
by Caryn Robbins - May 22, 2017

Neo-Traditional country singer, Shane Owens, will make his network television debut on 'Fox & Friends' Sunday May 28 and on Hallmark Channel's 'Home & Family' Monday May 29....












Videos

Recommended For You