Tommy Page's 1988 debut album consists of high-energy dance tracks dripping with synthesizer, mild techno beats and the occasional ballad (three to be exact). Those who only know him for his '90s pop music might be surprised to hear this early record -- it's filled with the kind of sound that his later material shows only traces of. It is a consistent and upbeat blending of songs, and even though it hits a couple of dead notes, such as the bland "Making My Move," there is an ambitious energy penetrating the album as a whole. The standout tracks include "A Zillion Kisses," "I Think I'm in Love" and the soaring, splendid, Arif and Joe Mardin-produced "A Shoulder to Cry On," which has a message and orchestration equal in beauty. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Tommy Page (Keyboards), Mark Partis (Engineer), Stephen Benben (Engineer), Arif Mardin (String Arrangements), Mary Ann Dibs (Art Direction), Tommy Page (Vocals (Background)), Isabel Snyder (Photography), Shelly Peiken (Vocal Arrangement), Arif Mardin (Producer), Rachel Faro (Vocal Arrangement), Maria Adler (Vocals (Background)), Gene Orloff (Concert Master), Joe Mardin (String Arrangements), V. Jeffrey Smith (Saxophone), Nick Rogers (Engineer), Michael Brauer (Mixing), Ira Siegel (Guitar), Philip Eastop (French Horn), Matthew Cang (Guitar), Nick Rogers (?), Joe Mardin (Producer), David Motion (Producer), David Motion (Arranger), Bob Rosa (Mixing), Joe Mardin (Programming), Arif Mardin (Arranger), Gerald Ashbey (French Horn), Mark Kamins (Mixing), Marla Adler (Vocals (Background)), Tommy Page (Arranger), Roey Shamir (Engineer), Bashiri Johnson (Percussion), Mark Kamins (Producer), Joe Mardin (Arranger), Miguel Kertsman (Keyboards), Joe Mardin (Drums), Shelly Peiken (Vocals (Background)), Gavyn Wright (?), Robbie Kondor (Keyboards), Tony Levin (Bass), Art Labriola (Keyboards), Jose Rodriguez (Mastering), Scott Blackwell (Mixing), Tommy Page (Vocals), Mark Partis (Mixing), Alan Park (Piano), Nick Ingman (String Arrangements), Robbie Kondor (Piano)
Representative Albums: "Paintings in My Mind", "Tommy Page", "From the Heart
Biography
Thomas Alden Page was born in New Jersey on May 24, 1970. He began playing the piano at age eight and learned keyboards at age 12, joining his brother in a band. Following graduation from high school, he moved to New York City and worked as a dress code checking clerk at a club called Nell's. During this time, he studied business at N.Y.U. and also produced and recorded the song "Turning Me On," promoting his EP to DJs around the city. After one year at Nell's, Page had the opportunity to meet with Madonna's producer, Mark Kamins, and the president of Sire Records, Seymour Stein. The meeting was Page's ticket to fame, as it culminated in a record deal with Sire Records in the spring of 1988. That same year, Page debuted with his self-titled album which faired respectively in Asia on the heels of the minor hit ballad "A Shoulder to Cry On," though went unnoticed in North America. Luck sprung again two years later when members of New Kids on the Block (at the peak of their success) landed a ride in the same limo and Donnie Wahlberg decided to "give T a number one song." The result was, in addition to serving as the opening act for their Step By Step tour, a number one Billboard hit titled "I'll Be Your Everything," a song which brought together Page's lead vocals and backup harmony by Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, and Danny Wood. The song appeared on Page's sophomore album Paintings in My Mind, and soon he was appearing on talk shows like Joan Rivers and Regis and Kathie Lee, featuring on the covers of every teen magazine, and taking on his own sold-out world tour. Warner Bros. was quick to cash in on their new talent and within a six-month period sent him over to producer Mike Paley for a guest spot on the Dick Tracy soundtrack, issued a new Christmas single, and a third album called "From the Heart." When sales flattened, Page was shelved by his American record label and deemed a one-hit wonder.
In Japan it was a different story, as Page released an album of new songs and B-sides titled Friend to Rely On and a greatest-hits package for Warner Japan, before heading over to the Asian Pony Canyon Records and releasing two new albums of appreciated maturity: Time in 1994 and Loving You in 1996. As the release date for Loving You approached, Page had just completed his degree in International Business and Marketing at N.Y.U. and found a permanent home in Manhattan as well as a weekend home in the Pocconos, PE. The album's single "Missing You" reached number one in Asia, but with the Japanese economic crisis of the late '90s, his record label closed down all but one of its offices and left his recording future uncertain.
Determined to bring in one final effort before focusing his career on producing other artists' material, Page releasedTen Til Midnight in Spring of 2000. It is reported that after completing each record, he carries his walkman along the beach for a listen. If the music moves him, it passes "the test." With only one American hit, Tommy Page has still made quite a career for himself, releasing seven full-length albums in 12 years. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Page was sixteen when he was a cloakroom attendant in a popular New Yorknightclub called Nell's, taking the coats of stars like Whitney Houston, Rob Lowe, and the Beastie Boys. The job gave Page a chance to play his demo tape to the house DJ, who then used the demos as part of his club mixes. The unknown sounds were so impressive that soon Page was introduced to Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, who had previously launched the careers of Madonna and The Ramones[1].
When Page turned eighteen, he was asked to write the theme tune for the film, Shag and later released it as his first single. Page's self-titled debut album was released under Sire Records (Warner Music) in November 1988 and contains hits like "A Zillion Kisses", "Turning Me On" and "A Shoulder To Cry On".
The follow-up album, Paintings In My Mind (which was dedicated to his grandmother) gave Page his first and only No. 1 single in the U.S., "I'll Be Your Everything," a song that was written with and features New Kids on the Block. Other singles which were released from the album after that were "When I Dream of You" and "Turn On The Radio" (another New Kids on the Block collaboration). The album also featured "Don't Give Up on Love," a duet with freestyle/dance singer Sa-Fire. Sa-Fire & Tommy co-wrote the song which was released as a single overseas. The two currently remain close friends.
Page's third album was entitled From The Heart and his vocals there showcased a wider range with higher notes than previous efforts. On this album, the ballads were more orchestral. The first single, "Whenever You Close Your Eyes" saw Page working with Michael Bolton and Diane Warren. "Under The Rainbow" and "Madly In Love" were released as singles thereafter.
As an appreciation to his fans in Asia, Page released another album, A Friend To Rely On. It contains the duet with Sally Yeh as mentioned above as well as a remake of Nik Kershaw's "Wouldn't It Be Good" and a song penned with Donna DeLory (Madonna's backing singer) called "Heaven In Your Eyes". As house music was the current trend, the upbeat songs were produced in such form.
Page concentrated on releasing his other albums after that in Asia, especially when he was no longer signed to Sire Records but to Pony Canyon Records instead. He recorded more duets with Asian singers like Liz Kong (from Hong Kong) and Amy Mastura (from Malaysia).
His latest album, Ten 'Til Midnight is only available for sale on-line. Page released Ten Til Midnight in Spring of 2000. It is reported that after completing each record, he carries his walkman along the beach for a listen. If the music moves him, it passes "the test." With only one American hit, Tommy Page has still made quite a career for himself, releasing seven full-length albums in 12 years.[2]
In 2003 he put out a DVD collection of his music videos which is on sale through his website www.tommy-page.com. He is currently working in A&R at Warner Music Group. Page is one of the producers on Ashley Tisdale's album, Guilty Pleasures, and also a friend of Tiffany; the two recorded "Close Our Eyes" together. He is also currently working with the band V Factory.
Page also appeared on an episode of Full House singing to Stephanie Tanner on her birthday, but began courting DJ, much to Stephanie's dismay.
"Once in a Lifetime" (Page/Peter Wolf/Kenny Nolan)
"I'm Falling in Love" (Page)
"Never Had It So Good" (Page/Alexandra Forbes)
"Turn On The Radio (House Mix)" (Page/Knight/Whalberg)
"A Zillion Kisses (Big Beat Mix)" (Page/Brown)
"A Friend to Rely On (Instrumental)" (Page) (Instrumental version of "A Shoulder to Cry On")
Time (first & second version)
Pony Canyon
First version: 1994 (with black and white close up cover)
Second version: 10/21/94 (with full-body picture and brown border)
The first 11 tracks are on both versions:
"Tell The World" (Page/Brown/Art Labriola)
"Places in My Heart" (Page/Elliot Wolff/Stacey Piersa)
"Time" (Page/Brown)
"Why" (Page/Brown/Bill Kennor)
"Something in Your Eyes" (Page/Piersa)
"Gonna Turn It Out" (Page)
"Spend Tonight With You" (Page/Brown)
"If I Had a Wish" (Page/Labriola)
"I'm Only Thinking of You" (Page/Michelle Vice)
"Now That I Found You" (Warren/Bolton)
"Time (Reprise)" (Page)
"Can't Get Enough of You" (Duet with Liz Kong) (Page) (only on the first version)
"Special Message" (Page) (Spoken word, only on the fist version of the Hong Kong release)
