Tommy Mac, also known as the artist, producer “Mashene,” is a multifaceted musician and composer hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, a city steeped in jazz history. His musical journey began at the tender age of 10, earning numerous accolades for his performances, including a standout performance at the Count Basie KC Jazz Festival ’65 alongside jazz legends like Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderly Quartet, and Stan Kenton during his high school years.
Tommy’s musical prowess extends across a range of instruments, including the trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, drums, vocals and percussion. He has had the privilege of performing as a soloist alongside a diverse array of renowned musicians and groups during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, from The Temptations, the Mighty Dells, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Mary Wells and Carlos Santana to Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, to name just a few. His orchestral experiences include performances with original New York casts of Bubbl’n Brown Sugar, Rais’n in the Sun, and Cats, as well as benefit concerts with the Kansas City Philharmonic at the Starlight Theater.
As a composer, Tommy has left his mark on the music industry. He collaborated on Freddie Hubbard’s CBS album title track, “Liquid Love,” and co-wrote “Hold U Again” with Allan Rich, who has penned hits for Natalie Cole, James Ingram, and Whitney Houston. Tommy’s solo recordings have been featured on tracks for Robert Downey Jr., Alex Ligertwood, and other major recording artists.
Tommy’s passion for music led him to Los Angeles in 1987, where he further honed his songwriting and recording career. By 1994, he had made his way to Las Vegas, NV, delivering memorable performances at major venues on and off the Strip. He had the honor of being the last performer on stage opposite the great Keeley Smith in the legendary Star-Lighter Room of the famed Desert Inn, now the Wynn Hotel.
In 2005, Tommy launched his one-man show under the DJ persona “Tommy Mac Mashene,” creating a live band edge with a focus on dance and an entertaining party atmosphere. His extensive equipment list includes a Yamaha MOX6 Keyboard, Kurzweil 88Key Stage Piano, Apple MacBook Pro with Ableton Live 11 Suite, and a gold-plated trumpet handcrafted by Claude Gorden, among others.
Educated in composition and orchestration at Central Missouri State, Conservatory of Music University of Missouri at K.C., and College of San Mateo, San Mateo, CA, Tommy Mac continues to contribute to the music industry with his unique blend of talent, experience, and passion.