{{Short description|American musical artist (born 1955)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tim Cappello | image = | caption = Cappello live in concert 2016 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|05|03}} | birth_place = Harrison, New York, U.S. | occupations = Musician, composer | instruments = Vocals, saxophone, keyboards, guitar, drums, percussion | years_active = 1977–present | associated_acts = Ringo Starr, Tina Turner }}
'''Tim Cappello''' (born May 3, 1955),<ref name=ROLLING1>{{cite news |last=Fricke |first=David |date=November 29, 1985 |title=Tina's 'Tarzan' not just a muscle man |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/129710090/ | work=The Palm Beach Post |location=West Palm Beach, Florida, United States |page=37 |access-date=December 7, 2018 |agency=Rolling Stone Magazine |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=May 2023|reason=The preceding cited reference only confirms his age and not his full date of birth}} also credited as '''Timmy Cappello''',<ref name=IMDB>{{IMDb name |id=0135511 |name=Timmy Cappello }}</ref> is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and vocalist. He is primarily known for his saxophone work supporting Tina Turner in the 1980s and '90s,<ref name=ROLLING3>{{cite news |last=Wild |first=David |title=Ringo Starr, Confident and Sober: Rolling Stone's 1992 Feature Story |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ringo-starr-confident-and-sober-rolling-stones-1992-feature-story-20110707 |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |newspaper=Rolling Stone |date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=DALLAS>{{cite news |title=The Legend of Billy Hicks. Or, why sax player is no longer a viable occupation in rock and roll |first=Zac |last=Crain |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/285981/ |newspaper=Dallas Observer |date=May 26, 2005 |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502000143/http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/285981/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Two summer soundtracks are keeping turntables warm |first=Kate |last=Cericola |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-L0yAAAAIBAJ&pg=1032,448535&dq=tim-cappello&hl=en |newspaper=Star-News |date=August 23, 1987 |page= 5G |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref> as well as for his musical performance in the 1987 vampire film ''The Lost Boys''.<ref name=ROLLING2>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/jon-hamm-breaks-out-saxophone-ham-and-buble-on-snl-20100201 |title=Jon Hamm Breaks Out Saxophone, Ham and Buble On "SNL" |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=February 1, 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref><ref name=WASHPO>{{cite news |title='The Lost Boys' turns 25: A list of 25 great things about the '80s vampireflick |first=Jen |last=Chaney |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/the-lost-boys-turns-25-a-list-of-25-great-things-about-the-80s-vampire-flick/2012/07/31/gJQAJInINX_blog.html |newspaper=Washington Post |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
He is notable for his muscular physique, his sexually provocative movements during performances, and for a tendency to perform shirtless, with oiled skin and a ponytail.<ref name=ROLLING1/><ref name=DALLAS/><ref name=ROLLING2/><ref>{{cite news |title=Dynamic Tina turns out class act |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hfEdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5690,4940615&dq=tim-cappello&hl=en |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |date=August 24, 1985 |page =B7 |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
==Early life== Cappello was born and grew up in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Harrison, New York, which, at the time, had a White Plains, New York, postal address.<ref name=ROLLING1/><ref name=IMDB/> The youngest of three children, his Sicilian father was a local conductor and music teacher.<ref name=ROLLING1/> Cappello started music lessons at age 4.<ref name=ROLLING1/> When he was 15 years old, Cappello dropped out of high school and was accepted at the New England Conservatory of Music, playing both drums and keyboards for his audition.<ref name=ROLLING1/> He later studied saxophone with Lennie Tristano.<ref name=ROLLING1/>
==Career==
Cappello studied intermittently with Lennie Tristano over a four-year span between touring with performers such as musician Eric Carmen and comedian Billy Crystal.<ref name=ROLLING1/> He played saxophone for Peter Gabriel on his album ''Peter Gabriel 2'' (1978)<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Peter Gabriel [2] |others=Peter Gabriel |date=1978 |url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/peter-gabriel-peter-gabriel/19994252 |url-status=live |publisher=Interscope Records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001121050/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/peter-gabriel-peter-gabriel/19994252 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |accessdate=June 5, 2018}}</ref> in addition to touring with Gabriel.<ref name="flagpole_article">{{cite web |title='The Lost Boys' Actor Tim Cappello Is the Real Sexy Sax Man |url=https://flagpole.com/music/music-features/2020/03/04/the-lost-boys-actor-tim-cappello-is-the-real-sexy-sax-man/ |first=Chad |last=Radford |publisher=Flagpole |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Friend |first=Lonn |authorlink=Lonn Friend |title=Life on Planet Rock: From Guns N' Roses to Nirvana, a Backstage Journey through Rock's Most Debauched Decade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d3FTObdLDUoC&q=%22timmy+cappello%22&pg=PA103 |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |type=eBook |date=July 11, 2006 |publisher=Random House Digital |isbn=0767922085 |page=103 }}</ref> Cappello also toured with Garland Jeffreys in 1978, playing both saxophone and keyboards.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mid-size format works well. Fire low, but Jeffreys still 'pretty good' |first=Bill |last=Provick |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-L0yAAAAIBAJ&pg=1032,448535&dq=tim-cappello&hl=en |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=June 1, 1978 |page= 77 |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref> After struggling with heroin addiction, Cappello quit the drug "cold turkey" in 1979 and began bodybuilding in 1980.<ref name=ROLLING1/> Cappello toured with Carly Simon later that same year, once appearing on stage in a leather g-string, as well as chains and a dog leash by which Simon pulled him onto the stage.<ref name=ROLLING1/>
From 1981 to 1982, Cappello fronted his own pop band in New York City called The Ken Dolls<ref name=ROLLING1/><ref name=MANHATPRO>{{cite web|url=http://manhatpro.com/live/ |title=About the Manhattan Producer's Alliance |work=manhatpro.com |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118020639/http://manhatpro.com/live/ |archivedate=November 18, 2012 }}</ref>—a band that included drummer J.P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson (also of The Dictators and Manitoba's Wild Kingdom)<ref name=MODERN>{{cite web|url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2011/10/j-p-%E2%80%9Cthunderbolt%E2%80%9D-patterson-punk-rock-renaissance-man/ |title=J.P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson: Punk Rock Renaissance Man |date=October 18, 2011 |work=Modern Drummer |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref> and Joe Carroll, a composer/producer who is president and founder of the Manhattan Producer's Alliance (ManHatPro).<ref name=MANHATPRO/> Cappello's sexual stage presence was further cultivated during his work with The Ken Dolls—performing in a style dubbed "porn pop",<ref name=ROLLING1/> Cappello was known to perform in a g-string.<ref name=MODERN/>
In 1984, Cappello was hired by Tina Turner as her keyboardist and saxophonist.<ref name=ROLLING1/> Recording and touring with her over several years, Cappello's work can be heard on Turner's tracks "We Don't Need Another Hero" and "One of the Living" from ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' (1985) in addition to appearing in the music videos for both singles.<ref name=ROLLING1/> Cappello performed on the 1993 soundtrack album ''What's Love Got to Do with It'', playing saxophone as well as singing Ike Turner's vocal parts in an updated version of the song "Proud Mary".<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1993/06/18/sliverpoetic-justicewhats-love-got-do-itposselast-action-heromade-americasuper/ |title=Sliver;Poetic Justice;What's Love Got to Do with It;Posse;Last Action Hero;Made in America;Super Mario Bros. |last=Browne |first=David |date=June 18, 1993 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=September 30, 2012}}</ref> Cappello toured with Ringo Starr in 1992 and 1999 as a member of his All-Starr Band.<ref name=ROLLING3/><ref>{{cite news |last=Fricke |first=David |title=Tina's 'Tarzan' not just a muscle man |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/03/arts/ringo-starr-plans-tour-of-us-this-summer.html |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 3, 1992 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Mary |title=Performing is still a thrill for Ringo Starr |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CcxEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1661,209770&dq=ringo+starr+1999+cappello&hl=en |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=The Albany Herald |date=April 2, 1999 |page=D1 }}</ref>
At {{convert|6|ft}} tall, and reportedly {{convert|215|lbs}} in 1985,<ref name=ROLLING1/> Cappello's size and appearance helped garner him roles in television and film. In 1987, he appeared in a musical performance in the film ''The Lost Boys'' where he both sang and played saxophone in a cover version of the song "I Still Believe" by The Call.<ref name=ROLLING2/><ref name=WASHPO/> As an actor, he appeared on the television shows ''The Equalizer'' and ''Miami Vice'' in 1987, as well as in the films ''Hearts of Fire'' with Bob Dylan in 1987 and ''Tap'' with Gregory Hines in 1989.<ref name=IMDB/>
Cappello has composed music for film and television. He has worked with director Carole Langer on three occasions, composing the score for her 1987 film ''Radium City''<ref name=IMDB/>—a documentary about the women who worked for the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois in the 1920s<ref>{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |title=Radium City (1987) Film Festival; A View of the Radium Dial Horror |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DEFD71430F935A1575AC0A961948260 |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 26, 1987}}</ref>—for her four-hour documentary series about the Rat Pack for the A&E channel, and for her 2001 TV documentary ''Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir''.<ref name=IMDB/> He joined Tina Turner at the 1993 National Rugby League Grand Final at the original Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia as part of the Half Time entertainment in front of 42,329 people. Cappello also composed the score for the A&E ''Biography'' episode titled "Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown" which first aired in 1996.<ref name=IMDB/>
In 2018, Cappello played saxophone on the Netflix variety show ''The Break with Michelle Wolf'' during a segment called "Saxophone Apologies" during which Wolf addressed the lack of apologies from both Bill Clinton and the press for their treatment of Monica Lewinsky in relation to the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilstein |first=Matt |date=June 8, 2018 |title=Michelle Wolf: Bill Clinton Owes Monica Lewinsky an 'Oral' Apology. |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/michelle-wolf-bill-clinton-owes-monica-lewinsky-an-oral-apology-3 |work=The Daily Beast |location=New York City, New York |access-date=June 10, 2018 }}</ref>
In 2018, Tim was featured, along with singer Indiana, on the British Synthwave band GUNSHIP's single "Dark All Day" from the album of the same name. The album rose to number 1 in the Electronic charts in the US, UK, and Canada.
He also released his first solo album, ''Blood on the Reed'', in 2018 and toured to support the album in 2019 and 2020 until COVID-19 hit.
In 2021 Tim was featured in the Netflix docuseries ''Worn Stories'' in which he tells about his relationship to his codpiece, first given to him by Tina Turner, as a symbol of strength in the face of the ups and downs of the music business and the saxophone's regard (or lack thereof) in popular music.
In 2021 and 2022, Timmy appeared as one of the rock experts on the AXS show 'The Top 10 Revealed, Starring Katie Daryl', appearing in four episodes in 2021 and again in 2022.
He made an appearance in June 2022 in a 35 minute video concert collaboration between ''Stranger Things'' and Doritos called 'Live From The Upside Down' starring Charli XCX, The Go-Go's, Corey Hart, and Soft Cell.
Cappello toured the US all through 2022 in support of his album ''Blood on the Reed''.
In September 2022, Cappello was featured in the season 2 finale of the FX series ''Reservation Dogs''. Cappello appears in the closing scene singing and playing saxophone to "I Still Believe" with White Jesus.
In September 2023, GUNSHIP released the "Unicorn" album, in which Cappello is featured in 'Monster in Paradise', 'Empress of the Damned' and 'Tech Noir 2' alongside other featured artists.
In December 2024, Cappello was once again featured alongside GUNSHIP in 'China in Your Hand'.
==In popular culture==
Actor Jon Hamm portrayed a pony-tailed, shirtless saxophonist named "Sergio" in an SNL Digital Short titled "The Curse", which aired on ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') on January 30, 2010.<ref name=ROLLING2/><ref name=AVCLUB>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-jon-hamm-michael-buble-1798164253 |title=Jon Hamm/Michael Bublé |last=Zulkey |first=Claire |date=January 31, 2010 |work=A.V. Club |access-date=September 30, 2012}}</ref> In the short, Andy Samberg's character is cursed by Sergio, who appears out of nowhere playing his saxophone at inopportune times.<ref name=ROLLING2/><ref name=AVCLUB/> Sergio's dancing and appearance resembled Cappello's performances in the film ''The Lost Boys'' and in the video for Tina Turner's 1985 single "One of the Living" from the ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' soundtrack.<ref name=ROLLING1/><ref name=ROLLING2/><ref name=WASHPO/><ref name=AVCLUB/>
In 2011, a video of a saxophone player interrupting college classes, and other public scenes, while repeatedly playing the saxophone riff from the 1984 pop ballad "Careless Whisper", was circulated on social media websites such as BuzzFeed<ref name=BUZZFEED>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jaded/sexy-saxman-serenade-2lzn|title=Sexy Saxman Serenade |last=Damboise-Taplin |first=Jade |date=March 12, 2011 |work=BuzzFeed |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref> and Urlesque.<ref name=URLESQUE>{{cite web |url=http://www.urlesque.com/2011/03/28/sexy-sax-man-trolls-everyone-in-careless-whisper-saxophone-pra/ |title=Sexy Sax Man Trolls Everyone in 'Careless Whisper' Saxophone Prank |last=Hathaway |first=Jay |date=March 28, 2011 |work=Urlesque |publisher=AOL |accessdate=September 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121194632/http://www.urlesque.com/2011/03/28/sexy-sax-man-trolls-everyone-in-careless-whisper-saxophone-pra/ |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The saxophonist in the video, also known as Sexy Sax Man, is shirtless, long-haired and is named Sergio Flores, echoing both Cappello's image and Jon Hamm's character's in the ''SNL'' parody.<ref name=BUZZFEED/><ref name=YAHOO>{{cite web|url=http://ca.music.yahoo.com/blogs/video-gaga/sexy-sax-man-careless-whisper-prank-nears-1-million-plays.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105180743/http://ca.music.yahoo.com/blogs/video-gaga/sexy-sax-man-careless-whisper-prank-nears-1-million-plays.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |title=Sexy Sax Man 'Careless Whisper' Prank Nears 1 Million Plays |last=Johnson, Jr. |first=Billy |date=March 14, 2011 |work=Yahoo Music Canada |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref> ''Paste'' magazine ranked the video #3 on their list of the 10 best viral videos of 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/12/the-10-best-viral-videos-of-2011.html?p=2 |title=The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2011 |last=Moore |first=Bo |date=December 13, 2011 |work=Paste |accessdate=September 30, 2012}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''Blood on the Reed'' (2018)
===Guest appearances=== * "Perspective", "Home Sweet Home" (from Peter Gabriel's ''Peter Gabriel'') (1978) * "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", "One of the Living" (with Tina Turner from ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' soundtrack) (1985) * "Typical Male" (with Tina Turner and Phil Collins from ''Break Every Rule'') (1986) * "I Still Believe" (from ''The Lost Boys'' soundtrack) (1987) * "Tonight" (with Tina Turner and David Bowie from ''Tina Live in Europe'') (1988) * "Look Me in the Heart", "Ask Me How I Feel" (from Tina Turner's ''Foreign Affair'') (1989) * "Dark All Day" (from Gunship's ''Dark All Day'') (2018) * "Los Feliz" (from Sonder Wilde's ''Los Feliz)'' (2019) * "Monster in Paradise" (from Gunship's ''Unicorn'') (2023) * "Empress Of The Damned" (from Gunship's ''Unicorn'') (2023) * "Nuclear Date Night" (from Gunship's ''Unicorn'') (2023) * "China in Your Hand" (Single from Gunship) (2024) * "Outro" (from Bonginator's Retrodeath) (2025) * "Light's Last Stand" (from The Protomen's ''Act III: This City Made Us'') (2026)
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Film |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1987 | ''The Lost Boys'' | Beach Concert Star | |- | 1987 | ''Hearts of Fire'' | Nico | |- | 1989 | ''Tap'' | Harry | Uncredited |- | 1993 | ''What's Love Got to Do with It'' | Keyboard Player | |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Television |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1987 | ''Miami Vice'' | Arzola | Episode: "Theresa" |- | 1987 | ''The Equalizer'' | Shopkeeper | Episode: "A Place to Stay" |- | 1987 | ''The Equalizer'' | Roadie | Episode: "Inner View" |- |2021 |''Worn Stories'' |Himself | |- |2022 |''Reservation Dogs'' |Himself |Episode: "I Still Believe" |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name |id=0135511 |name=Timmy Cappello }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capello, Tim}} Category:American male saxophonists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from White Plains, New York Category:New England Conservatory alumni Category:1955 births Category:20th-century American saxophonists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:21st-century American saxophonists Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:American people of Italian descent Category:Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band members