TOM HOOK

Biography

Tom Hook is a veteran stride pianist, singer, songwriter, and entertainer who began his career in Kansas City, Missouri, performing in local and regional jazz and rock bands, as well as working as a stage performer at Worlds of Fun theme park. He was a founding member of the New Red Onion Jazz Babies, a popular regional traditional jazz band. In 1980, he left Kansas City to start a long association with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company as a lounge entertainer on the Mississippi Queen, later becoming bandleader on the Delta Queen in 1985.[1][2][3][5]

Hook's career expanded in 1986 to Orlando, Florida, where he worked as a staff musician at Walt Disney World, with Bill Allred's Good Time Jazz Band at Rosie O’Grady’s, and fronted his vintage rock band, The Terrier Brothers, at venues like the Orchid Garden and Lil’ Darlin’s Rock and Roll Palace, sharing stages with 1950s and 1960s rock legends. In 1987, he co-founded the Black Dog Jazz Band, leading to performances at major U.S. traditional jazz festivals, tours of Western Europe, and a 1989 tour of Communist China. He balanced theme park roles, such as portraying Sam the Bartender at Disney's Diamond Horseshoe in 1990, with riverboat leadership, including music director at Harrah’s Casino New Orleans in 2001 and Director of Entertainment for Delta Queen Steamboat Co. in 2002. Hook also formed Daymark Productions in 2007 and continues worldwide tours.[1][2][3]

Known for his fluent stride piano style and good-humored performances, Hook has released projects like the dream album 62 on Arbors Records, featuring notable musicians, and stars in his one-man show 'Becoming Jelly Roll' and with his New Orleans All-Stars, fronted by Wendell Brunious, at Preservation Hall, riverboats, and internationally. His musical style blends traditional jazz, stride piano, and vintage rock, with a legacy in entertainment production, voice work for jingles (Kansas City Chiefs, Budweiser, Disney), and period music for video games.[1][2][3][6]

Fun Facts

• Recorded a progressive rock project with Kansas City-based Ancient Vision at Ian Anderson’s (Jethro Tull) studio in Barford-St. Michael, UK during his Orlando period.
• Performed on a spectacular 1989 tour of Communist China with the Black Dog Jazz Band.
• Won the coveted ‘golden Woody’ award as City Walk’s premier entertainer at Universal Studios.
• Produced and recorded period music for war games developed by John Tiller for HPS Simulations, and provided voice talent for jingles including Kansas City Chiefs, Budweiser, and Walt Disney World.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Bill Allred - worked in his Good Time Jazz Band (performances at Rosie O’Grady’s at Church Street Station) [1986]
• Wendell Brunious - frontman for Hook's New Orleans All-Stars (performances at Preservation Hall, American Queen, Queen of the Mississippi riverboats) [ongoing, recent years]
• Tom Fischer - tours with his New Orleans All-Stars (annual trips to Japan) [ongoing]
• Danny Caron - rhythm section guitarist on dream album (62 (Arbors Records)) [2000s]
• Bobby Durham - rhythm section bassist on dream album (62 (Arbors Records)) [2000s]
• Ed Metz - rhythm section drummer on dream album (62 (Arbors Records)) [2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Frightening Fishes - Main Title Theme from "Shrinking" (Shrinking: Season 1 (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack))
2. Ted Lasso Theme (Ted Lasso: Season 1 (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack))
3. Roger That (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
4. Big Jump (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
5. Doghouse Memories (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
6. Best Friends (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
7. Reporting on Dogman (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
8. Arresting Petey (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
9. Bomb Squad (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
10. Off the Case (Dog Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))

External Links

• Spotify