Professional session drummer Tommy Wells, a fixture on Nashville's music scene for more than 35 years, has died. He passed away Tuesday night, September 24, from a brain aneurysm. Tommy was 62 years old.
Working on a recording project in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Tommy Wells was found in his hotel room — assumed to have suffered from a heart attack or stroke, dying in sleep.
Tommy has appeared on more than 150 recordings throughout his career. His drumming can be heard on tracks from Porter Wagoner, Don McLean, Ray Stevens, Charley Pride, Charlie Daniels and many more classic country artists.
Besides working with Jimmy Hall and The Prisoners of Love for the past thirty years, Tommy was recently involved with recording and playing with Carolyn Martin.
About Tommy Wells Raised in Michigan, Tommy started by out banging on pots and pans. Then a WWII Rolling Bomber drumset. At age eleven, the first modern day drumset was a Christmas present.
By high school Tommy was a pro, working with pianist/arranger Bill Kennaugh, Bill Doggett, and saxophonist - Candy Johnson.
Tommy attended the Berklee College of Music before returning to Detroit to play rock and R&B music. He moved to Nashville in 1977, and quickly found work on sessions and on Nashville stages.
Tommy Wells was set to appear at a question and answer round table during Rich Redmond's Drummer’s Weekend in Nashville, set to take place November 1-3, 2013.
Tommy Wells is survived by wife Carolyn and son Dylan. His funeral service will be private, but Nashville musicians will gather at 5 pm on October 3 at Jay's Place Recording Studio, 1508 17th Ave. S., for the Tommy Wells Memorial Session.
