Tom Semioli

Tom Semioli is a news, public relations copy-writer, editor, journalist, blogger, video producer, and bass player - but not necessarily in that order!Among the shortlist of networks and media which have featured Tom's work include: ABC News, Al Jazzera, Allmusic.Com, Amplifier, Associated Press Television Network, BBC, Bloomberg TV, BON TV, CBS News, CCTV, CMT, CNBC, CNN, Counterpunch Deutsche Welle, ESPN, Euro News, Fox News, Ink 19, Interview, HuffPost, i24, ITV, Minor 7th, MSN, MTV, NBC News, NHK, NYC TV, PBS, RAI, Sky News, Shout New York, Spin, Rolling Stone, Telemundo, Thomson Reuters, Univision, Village Voice ZDF, VH-1, in addition to numerous independent and local media outlets worldwide. Tom studied bass with Ron McClure, renowned for his work with Charles Lloyd, Blood Sweat and Tears, Quest, and Joe Henderson, among others. At the University of Miami, Tom majored in Communications, with a Studio Music and Jazz Instrumental Minor, with instructors extraordinaire Roy Vogt and Don Coffman. At UM, he also wrote and published a satirical underground newspaper “The 5th Floor Times.” Following a Top-40 stint with future Grammy Award winning crooner Jon Secada, and graduation -Tom’s career on the bandstand and in the recording studio has exclusively been with original, singer-songwriter genre bands and artists – so don’t ask him to play standards or covers – he doesn’t know any and he’s not about to learn!In the early ‘80s after a few musical treks traversing the United States in regions he would rather not elaborate on, Tom opted to make New York City his home base – save for five years in California. Tom prefers subway travel and the Mets to rednecks, broken down buses, vans, and planes ala Buddy Holly and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the early 1990s, Tom and his musical colleague Jon Burke owned and operated Countdown Rehearsal Studios in San Francisco. We have no idea where the money went but we sure had a real good time! Among Tom’s favorite venues as a working bass player are/were The Bitter End, CBGB, 315 Bowery, The Mercury Lounge, The Pyramid Club, Gazzarri’s, Coney Island High, Whiskey A Go-Go, The Troubadour, The Bottom Line, Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall/Ritz, Sidewalk, Brownies, The Roxy, The Rathskeller, Rockwood Music Hall, Stone Pony, Sanctuary, the original Knitting Factory on Leonard Street, The China Club, Tramps, The Limelight, Maxwell's, The Middle East, Paradise Rock Club, and The Viper Room. If you see Tom playing at a club, send him a Dewar’s on the rocks – it helps him remember the changes!