# Tom Borton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tom_Borton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tom_Borton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Borton > Source revision: 1344720065 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American saxophonist (1956–2011)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tom Borton | image = | caption = | birth_name = Thomas William Borton | birth_date = January 4, 1956 | birth_place = [Norristown, Pennsylvania](/source/Norristown%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S. | death_date = July 26, 2011 (age 55) | death_place = [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), U.S. | restingplace = | restingplacecoordinates = | othername = | genre = Jazz | occupation = Musician, songwriter, composer | instrument = Saxophone | years_active = 1981–2011 }} '''Thomas William Borton''' (January 4, 1956 – July 26, 2011) was an American [jazz](/source/jazz) [saxophonist](/source/saxophonist), [songwriter](/source/songwriter) and [composer](/source/composer), and was the founder and [CEO](/source/CEO) of ''Los Angeles Post Music, Inc.''{{cite web | title = Tom Borton | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/artist/3830741-Tom-Borton-2 | access-date = September 5, 2022}}{{cite web | title = Los Angeles Post Music | url = http://lapostmusic.com/ | access-date = October 13, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180307121415/http://lapostmusic.com/ | archive-date = March 7, 2018 | url-status = dead}} ==Early life== Borton was born in [Norristown, Pennsylvania](/source/Norristown%2C_Pennsylvania) to Robert G. and Phyllis M. (Phelps) Borton, and later on moved to [Indianapolis, Indiana](/source/Indianapolis%2C_Indiana), where he grew up and began playing the saxophone at age 7.{{cite web | title = Thomas William Borton | website = Legacy.com | url = https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/thomas-borton-obituary?id=20390326 | access-date = March 6, 2023}}{{cite web | title = A-Train Mourns the Passing of Tom Borton, Friend and Client and Some Extra Text | website = A-Train Entertainment | date = August 2011 | url = https://www.a-train.com/wp/2011/08/a-train-mourns-the-passing-of-tom-borton-friend-and-client/ | access-date = March 6, 2023}} Borton attended Eastwood Junior High School, where he was a member of the school band; he won a talent show at a summer music camp held by [Purdue University](/source/Purdue_University) when he was in eighth grade. While in high school, he played with ''Tarnished Silver'', a band which featured R&B singer and songwriter Kenneth Edmonds, best known as [Babyface](/source/Babyface_(musician)), record producer [Daryl Simmons](/source/Daryl_Simmons), and drummer Rayford Griffin.{{cite web | title = Tom Borton | website = Inside Jazz | date = January 2018 | url = https://insidejazz.com/2018/01/tom-borton/ | access-date = March 7, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20260211125554/https://insidejazz.com/2018/01/tom-borton/ | archive-date = February 11, 2026 | url-status = dead}} Borton graduated from [North Central High School](/source/North_Central_High_School_(Indianapolis)) in Indianapolis in 1974, and attended [Indiana University Bloomington](/source/Indiana_University_Bloomington), where he joined a band called ''Streamwinner'', which featured guitarist [David Grissom](/source/David_Grissom), and drummer [Kenny Aronoff](/source/Kenny_Aronoff).{{cite web | title = Thomas Borton | website = Funeral Innovations | url = http://funeralinnovations.com/obituaries/view/152087/2/ | access-date = September 5, 2022}} ==Music career== In 1981, Borton moved to [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), where he started writing for television and film music. In the summer of 1987, he joined ''The Big Picture'' band as a composer and played alto saxophone; the band also featured singer and songwriter [Joanna St. Claire](/source/Joanna_St._Claire). In 1990, Borton released his debut album ''Dancing With Tigers'', which was co-produced with jazz musician [Vel Lewis](/source/Vel_Lewis), and released under the ''Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings'' label;{{cite web | title = Tom Borton - Dancing With Tigers | website = Discogs | date = 1990 | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/5701357-Tom-Borton-Dancing-With-Tigers | access-date = July 30, 2024}} two of the songs from the album, "Wherever You Are" and "Looking for a Way", were both featured in the "[Local Forecast](/source/Local_on_the_8s)" segments on ''[The Weather Channel](/source/The_Weather_Channel)''.{{cite web | title = "Wherever You Are" by Tom Borton | website = TWC Classics | date = January 5, 2017 | url = https://twcclassics.com/watch.php?file=920710-wherever-you-are | access-date = June 13, 2023}}{{cite web | title = "Looking for a Way" by Tom Borton | website = TWC Classics | date = March 15, 2014 | url = https://twcclassics.com/watch.php?file=looking-for-a-way-041992 | access-date = June 13, 2023}} In 1992, Borton released his second album ''The Lost World'', which was also co-produced with Lewis.{{cite web | title = Tom Borton - The Lost World | website = Discogs | date = 1992 | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/14267384-Tom-Borton-The-Lost-World | access-date = July 30, 2024}} Borton also worked with jazz musician and composer [Steve Allee](/source/Steve_Allee), and co-produced two of his albums, ''The Magic Hour'' (1995), and ''Mirage'' (2003).{{cite web | title = The Magic Hour - Steve Allee | work = AllMusic | url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-magic-hour-mw0000173852 | access-date = March 18, 2026}}{{cite web | title = Mirage - Steve Allee | work = AllMusic | url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/mirage-mw0000323316 | access-date = March 18, 2026}} In 2002, Borton and Allee both performed together at the ''Montreux Jazz Festival'' in [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland). Borton was the founder and CEO of ''Los Angeles Post Music, Inc'', a production music library, in which he composed music for TV shows such as ''[Friends](/source/Friends)'', ''[Sex and the City](/source/Sex_and_the_City)'', ''[The Sopranos](/source/The_Sopranos)'', ''[Lost](/source/Lost_(TV_series))'' and ''[King of the Hill](/source/King_of_the_Hill)''. He also composed music for the 1998 TV documentary ''Titanic: Secrets Revealed'',{{cite web | title = Titanic: Secrets Revealed | website = Radio Times | url = https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9m39ik/titanic-secrets-revealed/ | access-date = March 6, 2023}} and movies such as ''The Jitters'' (1989), and ''[Amy's Orgasm](/source/Amy's_Orgasm)'' (2001). ==Death== Borton died unexpectedly at his home in Los Angeles on July 26, 2011, at the age of 55. His third and final album, ''Simply One'', was released posthumously in 2012.{{cite web | title = Tom Borton - Simply One | website = Discogs | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/10717950-Tom-Borton-Simply-One | access-date = July 30, 2024}} Borton was survived by his parents, his sisters, Rebecca Ann (William) Erdel, and Janis Elaine Borton, and his two nephews and great nieces. ==Discography== '''Albums''' *1990: ''Dancing With Tigers'' (Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings) *1992: ''The Lost World'' (Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings) *2012: ''Simply One'' '''Compilation Appearances''' *1990: ''Best of Mesa Records & Bluemoon Recordings'' (Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings) (features the song "Photoland" from ''Dancing With Tigers'').{{cite web | title = Various - Best of Mesa Records & Bluemoon Recordings | website = Discogs | date = 1990 | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/25292398-Various-Best-Of-Mesa-Records-Bluemoon-Recordings | access-date = August 17, 2024}} *1992: ''The Best New Jazz in America: Volume 3'' (Catalyst Communications/Encore Distributors Inc.) (features the song "Swingopolis" from ''The Lost World'').{{cite web | title = Various - The Best New Jazz in America Vol. 3 | website = Discogs | date = 1992 | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/30698530-Various-The-Best-New-Jazz-In-America-Vol-3?srsltid=AfmBOopJ63WlVJQT-7Y0ZEgCemvuiOgG9i1HwEoGAyrnkc_JPcqL54qG | access-date = July 30, 2024}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-borton-mn0000931657 Tom Borton at AllMusic] *[https://www.discogs.com/artist/3830741-Tom-Borton-2 Tom Borton at Discogs] *[https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0097579/ Tom Borton at IMDB] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Borton, Tom}} Category:1956 births Category:2011 deaths Category:American jazz composers Category:American jazz saxophonists Category:American jazz songwriters Category:American male composers Category:American male jazz composers Category:American male musicians Category:American male saxophonists Category:American male songwriters Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni Category:Musicians from Indiana Category:Musicians from Indianapolis Category:Musicians from Pennsylvania Category:People from Norristown, Pennsylvania --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Borton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Borton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Borton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.