BIOGRAPHY

Born Thomas NIxon Hidreth Jr. in 1938 – Tommy grew up on a small farm in Prossser, Washington. When he wasn’t working on the farm, he’d be playing piano, guitar, or accordion. Tommy remembers the kids parking their cars in one big circle, all tuning their radios to the same station, and dancing all night long. He wasn’t much into the dancing though. He’d rather be playing music for others to dance to.

Tommy Deering began officially performing and recording when he was eight years old. While his first instrument was piano, he was additionally performing accordion, guitar, and trumpet, and recorded his first studio record with his father on mandolin in 1946. He performed many gigs around his hometown in South Central Washington, the most prestegioius in 1953 with the Art Cooper Trio at the Officers Club at Camp Hanford. He went on to form an accordion duo, “Tommy and Benny” with Benny Danson. The duo landed their first big gig in 1954 in Portland, Oregon. He was sixteen years old at the time, performing at the prostegious Amato’s Supper Club opening for Vaudeville legend Sophie Tucker, deemed the “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas”.

In 1956 Deering signed with MCA Talent Agency and relocated to Beverly Hills. His duo performed in showrooms such as Ambassador Hotel in Hollywood for quite some time, as well as booked shows alongside Ella Fitzgerald on occasion. In 1957 he performed at the Flamingo alongside Pearl Bailey, making Tommy one of the longest-running jazz pianists in Las Vegas.

In 1957 Deering wrote a song of heartbreak after a breakup with his girlfriend “Nights Are Longer”. He envisioned this being recorded by the Four Freshmen, and in 1958 he had the chance to meet the band and pitched it to them. After an initial rejection by the group, he later had a professional demo recorded and pitched it to the group a second time… this time they decided to record it (Capital Records).

Tommy evantually began to pursue acting, writing and composing with a push from his manager. He wrote a parady called “Bingo Ringo” for Huckleberry Hound. Daws Butler recorded this in 1964. In 1965, the Tommy Deering Jazz Trio opened at the Blue Room Jazz Lounge, where Pete Fountain, Julie London, and others performed as well. His conections and composition skills eventually led to accompanying jazz giant Joe Williams on the ‘Tonight Show’. Williams recorded two of Tommy’s original compilations, “Changes” and “It’s Not Easy Being White”. Tommy also landed a gig doing comedy writing with Tommy Smothers of the “Smothers Brothers”.

In 1967, Tommy Deering and the Inner Circle opened the Alladin, performing as the first racially diverse lounge act in Las Vegas. One of their final performances was in 1973 at the Silver Slipper, when buffet prices were $1.19-$1.97! From there, Tommy performed steadily at the Sahara Casbar Theater, Palace Court at Caesars Palace (5 years), Desert Inn Raffles Lounge (6 years), and Luxor Anteroom Lounge (3 years), Wynn Executive Lounge (3 years) and the Bootlegger (5 years).

Along with many original compilations, Tommy has recorded several albums of his favorite cover jazz tunes with “Tommy Deering for Dinner”, “Tommy Deering live at Felini’s” and “Tommy Deering for Christmas”. He has arranged and conducted for Bobby Gentry. His song “Changes” was introduced on the Johnny Carson Show with legendary jazz singer Joe Williams. He had the privelage to work with Frank Sinatra at Cal Neva Hotel in Lake Tahoe. And he has performed 12 of his original compositions at Carnegie Hall, ending with Rhapsody in Color – commissioned by the International Peace Garden Foundation. In relation to this musical masterpiece, the Tommy Deering Scholarship is awarded from Washington DC to a deserving young musician who could not afford a musical education.

Tommy has accompanied many artists and tv personalities over the years. Credits include: Barbary McNair, Bobbie Gentry, Buddy Greco, David Letterman, Don Rickles, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Four Freshmen, Four Lads, Frank Sinatra, Gogi Grant, Jacky Mason, Joan Rivers, Joe Williams, Johnny Carson, Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Jimmy Rogers, Little Richard, Ma Baer Jr, The Mills Brothers, Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Rich Little, Robert Goulet, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, Skatman Crothers, Siegfried and Roy, Sonny King, Sophie Tucker, Tommy Smothers, Tony Bennet, Vikki Carr

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Tommy’s latest recording is a 10 volume compiliaton of original piano compositions composed of relaxing piano songs for meditation, writing, studying, or for enjoyment any time of the day. Tommy currently resides in Pahrump, Nevada.

LINKS TO ARTICLES:
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2003/dec/05/columnist-jerry-fink-deering-lets-music-guide-his-