Tom Vaughn

Father Tom Vaughn is an American Jazz pianist and retired Episcopalian priest.

Biographical

Born Thomas Wade Vaughn (1937) in Benton, Kentucky, young Tom Vaughn began his music study around the age of eight. By age young Tom Vaughn had relocated to Michigan with his family. During his adolescence the young father-to-be studied music vigorously, both jazz and classical. Following his secondary education he attended Yale University, and in 1965 he entered the Episcopal priesthood. His first position was assistant to the rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Midland, Michigan. That same year Father Tom sat in with Gene Krupa's quartet in Detroit, where he caught the attention of producer George Wein.

One year later Father Tom Vaughn recorded "Jazz In Concert At The Village Gate" with Art Davis (b) and Elvin Jones (d). As a Jazz pianist, he would record several albums, the total quantity of which is impossible to enumerate, because most (if not all) of these records have been out of print for many years.

Father Vaughn left St. John's Church in Midland in 1967, deciding to concentrate on his music. He played in festivals and campus tours during the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as many local and national talk shows.

In 1971, Father Vaughn performed a jazz concert in the Parish Hall at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Winnetka, California to raise funds for the "Fireside Room". Shortly thereafter, Father Tom began serving as assistant to the rector at St. Martins. Three years later, St. Martin’s celebrated their 25th anniversary with a big barbecue, music and dancing. Father Tom played a set during the 1974 festivities. Father Tom Vaughn was installed as rector in 1976 and served the parish until 1984. [ [http://www.st-martins.org/history.html St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church history] ]

Father Tom Vaughn reappeared in 1990, conducting the memorial service for singer June Christy at the famed Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills). As part of the service, he invited a quartet of eminent musicians to play in her honor, but didn't join the group himself, instead opting to listen and enjoy the music as a spectator. [ [http://www.belten.freeserve.co.uk/misty/june2c.htm Father Tom Vaughn's involvement during the June Christy memorial service] ]

After his final album, Joyful Jazz, Father Tom has remained, for the most part, under the radar. Despite his inactivity and unknown whereabouts he has left a handful of great recordings for the jazz appreciative masses.

Today, Vaughn's version of Battle Hymn of the Republic can be heard every Saturday night at 9:00 pm EST on WABE 90.1 in Atlanta. The song provides the introduction to H. Johnson's "Jazz Classics" radio show. H. Johnson's jazz show has aired for more than 26 years. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/06/jazz/ CNN on H. Johnson's Jazz Classics] ] . It appears that Johnson has begun the show with Battle Hymn for 21 of those 26 years. [ [http://georgiasports.blogspot.com/2006/07/favor-from-readers-battle-hymn-by.html#c116607581123313032 Georgia Sports Blog-Johnson's use of "Battle Hymn"] ] .

Vaughn is survived by three children who are currently compiling their father's work into digital form. [ [http://georgiasports.blogspot.com/2006/07/favor-from-readers-battle-hymn-by.html#c116607581123313032 Georgia Sports Blog: comment from S Vaughn on 12/14/2006 12:56 AM] ]

Discography

Jazz in Concert at the Village Gate [live] (1966/RCA)
Cornbread (1967/RCA)
Motor City Soul (1968/RCA)
Joyful Jazz (1976/Concord Jazz)

References