Editors' Note: You may remember reading about Tommy Sullivan in previous issues of HixNews. We are reprinting this biography in preparation for additional articles about our classmate.
Thomas "Tommy" Sullivan, Class of 1963
Tommy graduated from Hicksville High back in 1963.
After high school, Tommy decided to join the Army.
His prowess with music became evident while in basic training. Billeted as a musician, he graduated basic and was sent to West Point to become part of the "classical" band.
The West Point Band has a magical history dating back to the Revolutionary War. Tommy enjoyed his participation in the band while its venue was to play conventional music. After being at the Point for a while, he toyed with an idea to introduce a "different kind" of music to the cadets. He was in a rock band in high school and rock shared a significant part of the music currently being played on the radio. He nurtured the idea of forming a rock band with the military command at the academy and convinced them an addition would benefit West Point.
Above Taken At West Point back in the Sixties
Finally, in the late sixties, Tommy was instrumental forming the first rock band that included three other HHS classmates and Jerry Capuccio, who was not a classmate!
Tommy is a founding member of the original Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1968, Betty Sperber, owner and founder of the talent management and booking agency Action Talents in New York City, was hosting her once a month Battle of the Bands talent search at the Cloud Nine nightclub in Farmingdale and brought Maestro & the Del-Satins along as the evening's special guest stars.
The Rhythm Method was a group Tommy helped create immediately after leaving the West Point Band, which included five fellow Hicksville classmates. As one of the Battle of the Bands' contestants, their performance was such a success that the next day Sperber decided to combine the talents of Maestro, the Del-Satins, and The Rhythm Method. The new group's name came about after an agent made the off-handed comment that "it would be easier to sell the Brooklyn Bridge " than book the proposed 11-piece act!
The Brooklyn Bridge soon gained national exposure, thanks in part to their recording of Jim Webb's 'The Worst That Could Happen', which led to a chart-topping Gold Record and a string of television appearances on shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Della Reese. The band followed this up with such hits as 'Welcome Me Love', 'Blessed Is the Rain', 'Your Husband, My Wife' and 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. By 1972, The Brooklyn Bridge had sold over 10 million records, and Johnny Maestro had established himself as one of the top vocal performers of his era.
Tommy, along with other band members, who were his classmates...Carolyn Wood, Jimmy Rosica, Joe Ruvio, Artie Catanzarita and Shelley Davis...was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006, the first year of inductions.
Johnny Maestro and Tommy produced a critically acclaimed CD back in 2001 called Peace On Earth (sadly, Johnny's final CD).
Tommy is doing a very special Fundraiser Concert on Oct. 21 for United Cerebral Palsy, fronting the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra at the Tilles Center . It's being billed as a tribute to Johnny Maestro; probably will include some other Hix/Bridge Alumni. Tommy will definitely update everyone with more detail as the date approaches.
Currently, Tommy sings the National Anthem for the Rocky Point VFW at all their functions, and the Patriotic Assemblies at Rocky Point High School...plus at a lot of 9-11 Memorial dedications, including the 9-11 tenth anniversary at Fort Montgomery, with a Cadet Honor Guard last September (photo attached). Says Tommy, "Last September I sang the Anthem more than 'The Worst That Could Happen'!
I donate my music to many charities, and my pet cause is the State Vets Home in Stony Brook, where I've helped raise over $300,000 at their annual Golf Outing Fundraiser for the past 3 years." Tom also performs concerts for the boys at the Vets Home several times a year. Just this month, he started similar performances for the Northport Vets Home.
Tommy has long ascribed his success in the music business to the excellent music education he received in the Hicksville Public School system. He's always acknowledged the inspiration of his lifelong mentor and friend, the late Charles F. Gouse, head Hicksville Music Administrator for many years. "His special attention, lifelong guidance, and support enhanced my appreciation of music and virtually guaranteed my success."
Tommy Sullivan can be seen on and off Long Island performing his solo concert act at dozens of area Libraries (including Hicksville, this coming October 14), local vineyards, charity events, restaurants, and outdoor concerts. Hix News readers can be added to Tommy's e-mailer to learn about all upcoming performances by sending their e-mail addresses to
