Tommy Bridges

Tommy Bridges is a versatile brass musician whose lifelong dedication to performance has earned him recognition as an accomplished “doubler,” skilled in playing multiple instruments with ease. Music was woven into his family heritage — his grandmother was a songwriter whose works were recorded by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra, and his uncle was a traveling musician who contributed to the early development of the USO during World War I. Inspired by this legacy, Tommy began playing baritone horn at age ten and quickly distinguished himself through constant practice and musical curiosity. By junior high, he had taken up bass trombone and continued expanding his abilities across the brass family, often laying out his instruments and rotating between them until he had practiced each one. While attending college in Reno, Tommy performed French horn with the symphony and built a strong reputation for his adaptability. In 1970, he toured with Stan Kenton and can be heard on the album Stan Kenton Live at Redlands. Throughout his career, Tommy appeared in numerous stage musicals and performed alongside renowned entertainers including Henry Mancini, Milton Berle, Harry James, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, and Buddy Rich. Passionate about education, he has led master classes on the art of doubling and remains deeply grateful for a life shaped by music.