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Tom Wopat

All it takes is a phrase or two from Tom Wopat's warm, engaging baritone to trigger the desire to hear more. And the more one listens, the better it gets — from the way he finds the heart of a song’s story to his lyrical phrasing and his gently swinging, jazz-infused rhythms.

That’s a large handful of uniquely appealing qualities, and they’re all over the fourteen utterly captivating tunes on I’ve Got Your Number. Tom applies his far-ranging interpretive skills to discovering new, intriguing musical twists in such Great American Songbook classics as “The Good Life,” “The Folks Who Live On The Hill,” “Call Me,” “Born To Be Blue,” “I Won’t Dance” and, of course, the title track. As if that wasn’t enough, he also takes his listeners on adventurous new journeys through contemporary songs from the likes of Paul Simon, Judy Collins, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Hornsby and James Taylor.

At first glance, that could be viewed as a surprisingly diverse program of material from a performer who may be best known for his starring role in the '80s hit television series The Dukes of Hazzard. But his versatility was there from the beginning, and on full display in a career reaching from his television work of the ‘70s and ‘80s to high visibility Broadway roles in 1999’s Annie Get Your Gun and 2008’s Catered Affair (he received Tony Award nominations for both), as well as Chicago, Forty-Second St., Sondheim on Sondheim and more.

And it hasn’t stopped there. Tom’s career is still very much in high gear, currently with a role in Quentin Tarantino’s film Django Unchained, scheduled for release in December. His acting work in musicals also continues, with a major role in next year’s ABC Family film, Lovestruck – a movie musical with a magical twist — in which he co-stars with Jane Seymour.

I’ve Got Your Number is his eighth album – a very different recording from his early efforts. And it’s probably understandable that his first recordings emerged in country music style with a spicy seasoning of rock.

But Tom insists upon keeping that phase of his musical career in context. “Remember,” he says, “at that time we were just coming off Urban Cowboy, so the country pop thing was almost like the MOR music of the early ‘80s. You could make a case that the Eagles were kind of country oriented…And if James Taylor had come along 15 years later, he probably would have been seen as a country artist.” Given the breadth of his musical skills, Tom adapted easily, performing superbly on those early, country-tinged recordings, crafting some of his own songwriting along the way.

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11
Album Review

Tom Wopat: I've Got Your Number

Read "I've Got Your Number" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


In recent years, there's been a cottage industry of celebrities from rock, pop, country and television who wander into the American Songbook in the sunset of their careers and try to put out “jazz" albums. This CD is a welcome exception. While Tom Wopat may be best-loved for playing “Luke Duke" on the Dukes of Hazzard TV show (1979 to 1985), he has serious country music bona fides as well as two Tony nominations for his Broadway efforts. For those ...

131
Album Review

Tom Wopat: The Still of the Night

Read "The Still of the Night" reviewed by Dave Nathan


It's not reached stampede proportions, but there are a number of entertainment professionals crossing over into singing. Gary Le Mel, a top Warner Brothers movie executive came with his album Moonlighting last year. Now there's TV personality. Tom Wopat with his first vocal album The Still of the Night. Wopat is probably best known for his role on the Dukes of Hazzard. He also appeared as Cybill Shepherd's husband on Cybill and has been on Home Improvement. On the music ...

150
Album Review

Tom Wopat: The Still Of The Night

Read "The Still Of The Night" reviewed by Jim Santella


Tom Wopat sings ballads with a coolness of spirit that matches his conservative stage presence. Best known for his television and Broadway acting roles, Wopat has recorded before; this is his fifth album. Show tunes, standards and country ballads represent a fine cross-section of American popular music. Wopat presents them well. As a classically trained singer, he possesses all the necessary skills. However, the actor's cool approach gets in the way when it comes to romance. Rather than convince a ...

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81

Radio

Rockwired.com Presents: The Best of Jazzed and Blue Featuring Exclusive Interviews with Tom Wopat, Marilyn Mcleod and Barbara Martin

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features exclusive interviews with Dukes of Hazard star Tom Wopat, legendary Motown songwriter Marilyn McCleod and acclaimed singer-songwriter Barbara Martin. Television and Broadway veteran Tom Wopat has released his brand-new jazz album, Consider It Swung. The record is a swingin' collection of standards featuring Wopat and some of the best jazz musicians New York City has to offer, including Tedd ...

45

Radio

Rockwired.com’s Latest Edition Of Jazzed and Blue Presents: Broadway and Television Veteran Tom Wopat And Music From Curtis Stigers, Jane Badler And Marilyn Mcleod

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features music and an exclusive interview with Broadway and television veteran Tom Wopat (The Dukes of Hazard). In this opening segment, Wopat discusses his forthcoming release 'Consider it Swung,' working with producer and bassist David Finck and plans for future recordings. The second half of this edition of Jazzed and Blue will feature music from such jazz and blues artists ...

164

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Al Jarreau, Marc Copland Trio with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, Mardra and Reggie Thomas, Tom Wopat, and More

Jazz This Week: Al Jarreau, Marc Copland Trio with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, Mardra and Reggie Thomas, Tom Wopat, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's another busy week for jazz in St. Louis, so let's go right to the highlights:Tonight, Jazz St. Louis presents Reggie Thomas and OGD in a free concert celebrating Blue Note records at the Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand. In case you didn't know, “OGD" stands for organ, guitar and drums, and it's always a treat to hear Thomas play the B-3, especially given the relative dearth of jazz organ shows in town these days. Also, the ...

108

Performance / Tour

Tom Wopat Swings Sinatra at NY's Metropolitan

Tom Wopat Swings Sinatra at NY's Metropolitan

Source: Michael Ricci

As Saloon Swinger, Tom Wopat Tries a Little Tenderness

“Un-Frank-like," meaning not in the Sinatra manner, said Tom Wopat, describing his approach to “That's Life" at the Metropolitan Room. Swinging lightly and joking his way through the 1966 hit that Frank Sinatra turned into a vocal punching bag, Mr. Wopat treated it as an offhanded sparring match between the urge to triumph and the impulse to throw in the towel. “That's alliteration," he joked, after singing the lines, “I've been ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Still of the Night

Angel Records Canada
2001

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The Still Of The Night

Angel Records Canada
2000

buy

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