RIP Tommy Crook...

[Onlyserious]

Tulsa's local legend Tommy Crook has passed away. Criminally under-recorded and under-documented, he was nothing short of great. Johnny Carson asked Chet Atkins if there was a better guitarist than himself, and Chet cited "an ol' boy from Tulsa, Tommy Crook." He held down a solo gig at the Tulsa Airport Hilton six nights a week for twenty years during the 60's and 70's. During that span he's play a Gibson Switchmaster with two bass strings and an antique Hammond Drum machine and sounded like a top tier jazz trio.

I'm proud to say we hired him to play our (modest) wedding reception in 2000, where I got to sit in the last 15 minutes and he was gracious enough to not embarrass me. He had kids dancing with a medly of familiar kid tunes and then killed it with the Theme from Sesame Street.

Google his video--not many, the best from an instruction tape.

[DawgBone]

Sounds like an amazing guitarist, I'll have to check it out. RIP.

Oklahoma has had a number of sleeper agents over the years.....

[sgcim]

Tulsa's local legend Tommy Crook has passed away. Criminally under-recorded and under-documented, he was nothing short of great. Johnny Carson asked Chet Atkins if there was a better guitarist than himself, and Chet cited "an ol' boy from Tulsa, Tommy Crook." He held down a solo gig at the Tulsa Airport Hilton six nights a week for twenty years during the 60's and 70's. During that span he's play a Gibson Switchmaster with two bass strings and an antique Hammond Drum machine and sounded like a top tier jazz trio.

I'm proud to say we hired him to play our (modest) wedding reception in 2000, where I got to sit in the last 15 minutes and he was gracious enough to not embarrass me. He had kids dancing with a medly of familiar kid tunes and then killed it with the Theme from Sesame Street.

Google his video--not many, the best from an instruction tape.

They used to mention him in the old jazz guitar newsgroup, but I got his name mixed up with another great Southern guitarist, Clint Strong.
Thanks for tetling us about him and his sad passing. RIP.
WOW! I just heard his version of ATTYA with a seven string guitar. He was great!!!!

[wintermoon]

They used to mention him in the old jazz guitar newsgroup, but I got his name mixed up with another great Southern guitarist, Clint Strong.
Thanks for tetling us about him and his sad passing. RIP.
WOW! I just heard his version of ATTYA with a seven string guitar. He was great!!!!

I don't think he played a 7, but for years he used an old Gibson Switchmaster he would put 2 low strings on and play bass lines/solos on those low strings.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Great player! He had a lot of Tuck Andress’ approach, but I don’t think he took it as far into funky licks and pop tunes. Here’s the aforementioned ATTYA:

[Cunamara]

Wow, I'd never heard him before. He got a decent upright-reminiscent sound out of those bass strings, which surprises me. And a sign of class:

I'm proud to say we hired him to play our (modest) wedding reception in 2000, where I got to sit in the last 15 minutes and he was gracious enough to not embarrass me.

[charlieparker]

Tulsa's local legend Tommy Crook has passed away. Criminally under-recorded and under-documented, he was nothing short of great. Johnny Carson asked Chet Atkins if there was a better guitarist than himself, and Chet cited "an ol' boy from Tulsa, Tommy Crook." He held down a solo gig at the Tulsa Airport Hilton six nights a week for twenty years during the 60's and 70's. During that span he's play a Gibson Switchmaster with two bass strings and an antique Hammond Drum machine and sounded like a top tier jazz trio.

I'm proud to say we hired him to play our (modest) wedding reception in 2000, where I got to sit in the last 15 minutes and he was gracious enough to not embarrass me. He had kids dancing with a medly of familiar kid tunes and then killed it with the Theme from Sesame Street.

Google his video--not many, the best from an instruction tape.

Great player! He had a lot of Tuck Andress’ approach, but I don’t think he took it as far into funky licks and pop tunes. Here’s the aforementioned ATTYA:

Hot Dayyum!