Tom Marshall (singer)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tom Marshall


Background = group_or_band
Img_capt = Tom Marshall in 2001
Img_size = 160px
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = 1965
Origin = Princeton, New Jersey
Instrument = keyboards
Genre = psychedelic rock, rock music, jam band
Occupation = musician
Years_active = 1982 - present
Label =
Associated_acts = Phish, Amfibian, Bivouac Jaun
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = keyboards

Tom Marshall (b. November 12, 1963) is a lyricist, keyboardist and singer/songwriter best known for his association with Trey Anastasio and the rock band Phish. He was the primary external lyricist for Phish during their 21 year career (1983-2004), with songwriting credits for more than 95 originals - more than Mike Gordon (22), Jon Fishman (18), Page McConnell (11), and "Phish" in the generic (41) combined.

Marshall attended Princeton Day School in New Jersey with Anastasio. The duo began writing songs together as early as the eighth grade (the reggae tune "Makisupa Policeman" is often regarded as the duo's first collaboration and the very first Phish original song). Other early collaborations include "Bivouac Jaun", a project recorded by Marshall, Anastasio, and their friend Marc Daubert (who occasionally played percussion with Phish in 1984 and wrote the lyrics to their classic "The Curtain"). Many of the pieces recorded on "Bivouac Jaun" appeared on the very first Phish album. Marshall also was instrumental in influencing "The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday", a Phish concept album and song cycle about the mystical land of Gamehendge written by Anastasio and used as his senior thesis at Goddard College in 1987.

Marshall, Anastasio, and friends would meet at "the rhombus," a giant piece of art located in a park in New Jersey, and embark on lengthy songwriting sessions. Many characters and locations mentioned in early Phish songs reference these songwriting sessions. In one instance, Marshall wrote the original lyrics to the Gamehendge song "McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters" and nailed them to Anastasio's front door. By 1985, Anastasio and Marshall had parted ways as Anastasio became more involved with Phish at the University of Vermont.

Years later in 1989, Marshall apparently heard Phish's "Junta" album and thought to himself, "these guys really need lyrics." Marshall and Anastasio reunited and began a long songwriting partnership that resulted in over 100 songs over the next fifteen years. Anastasio's 2005 solo album "Shine" marks the first time since the pre-"Junta" years that he has not worked with Marshall.

As of Spring of 2008, Anastasio and Marshall are once again engaging in collborative writing sessions in Anastasio's studio in upstate New York.

In addition to working closely with Anastasio, Marshall fronts his own band, Amfibian, currently on hiatus.

Discography

1. "Amfibian Tales" (August, 2000)

2. "Trampled By Lambs and Pecked by the Dove" (with Trey Anastasio) (November 1, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.phish.net/faq/marshall.html Phish.Net FAQ: Tom Marshall]
* [http://www.jambase.com/marshall/index.asp Fans interview Tom Marshall]
* [http://www.amfibian.com Amfibian]