Arts/Fun
Musician Tommie French Coming to CCF Coffee Hour
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When Central resident Tommie French was only 3 years old, he would run to his aunt's piano and pick out music with one finger. His parents, seeing his passion for the instrument, bought him an old upright. He would put on country music and gospel records and play along, inspiring his dad to make him an offer. "He said, 'If you can play "Great Balls of Fire" like Jerry Lee Lewis, I'll get you the piano of your choice,'" shares Tommie. The piano is still at his mom's house to this day.
When he was about 12 years old, Jonesville featured the Catahoula Country Music Show. His parents would drive him to Jonesville to play, he would be paid $10 a night. Tommie says, "My parents were very supportive. My mom passed from Alzheimers in June, the one thing she could remember was that I could play." He met one of his very best friends playing that show – LaMar Passey, an "awesome guitarist". The still play together regularly at the Jones Boys Hall of Fame.
When Tommie was 15, he heard Jerry Lee Lewis would be in Ferriday. "I got dressed up, went to the house, knocked on the door, and asked to see Mr. Lewis," remembers Tommie with a grin. "He let me in, and we visited for about an hour." Tommie was still in high school when he began playing for audiences at a motel lounge in Natchez. Lewis came in one night and heard him playing. They became good friends, with Tommie picking Lewis up at the airport when he came into town and the two of them staying up all night in the lounge playing pianos together. It was Lewis who invited Tommie to go to Memphis. He spent the next few years playing in that town, meeting the likes of Ronnie Milsap, Peggy Forman, Fats Domino, and Conway Twitty. His stories of these legends show them to be just down to earth regular folks. He toured with several of them, including Jerry Lee.
Once Tommie moved to Baton Rouge, he formed his own band, "Tommie French and the Expressions." They played at the Monarch Inn on Sherwood Forest for 12 years, 5 nights a week, til the owner sold the hotel. Nowadays he picks and chooses his venues, seeking those that enjoy the music he does. He uses his experience on the road to book tours for bands through Baton Rouge Limousine Service, the business he runs with his wife, Terri, now in its 25th year. Through their limo service, he's had the chance to meet other celebrities like Kenny Rogers, Mohammed Ali, James Carville, and Vince Gill. His only regret is that he never had the chance to meet Ronald Reagan or Ray Charles. Charles died 2 weeks before Tommie was scheduled to open for him at the Hard Rock Cafe in New Orleans.
Tommie is working on a double album, The 2 Sides of Me, featuring covers and original compositions. It will be country music on one side, gospel on the other. He is very aware of the blessings he has received in his amazing life. He is grateful to his parents, neither of whom were in the music business. "My dad was a carpenter, my mom worked for Sears." He is also thankful for his wife Terri. "She works so hard, she never stops. She's been a blessing to me." Tommie says with genuine feeling, "I thank God for my music. My ability is truly something He gave me. I was born with it. I've had a great life, I've been blessed."
Come out and hear Tommie play and sing great hits on the piano at the Central Cultural Foundation's Coffee Hour on August 29th. This will be held at Central Perk from 7-9 pm and is a FREE event. Tommie will be entertaining the audience on the piano and sharing stories of some of the biggest names in the business. Central is truly fortunate to have a talent like Tommie calling it home!
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