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John Tropea

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Biography of John Tropea

John Tropea
John Tropea
Instrument: Guitar

URL: http://www.johntropea.com/

John 'Smokin' Tropea began guitar studies at the age of 12. His musical education continued at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz guitar, harmony, Musical composition, and big band arranging. Immediately after arriving in Boston, Tropea began playing live R & B and jazz gigs with many different bands in the area, including The Three Degrees. Influenced by Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith, Louis Bonfa, Pat Martino, and George Benson, it was at this time that Tropea began to absorb those influences into an original style of his own. Also among his mentors at the time were the great Hammond B3 Organ players Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith.

After Berklee, Tropea recorded and toured with Eumir Deodato. Moving to New York in 1967, Tropea quickly became one of the most sought after session players. He soon became a peer among New York’s finest studio musicians. As well as world touring, Tropea wrote and produced three critically acclaimed solo albums with TK records.

His first solo album “Tropea,” was released in 1975, followed by “Short Trip to Space,” and “To Touch You Again.” With those early recordings and other projects, Tropea formed close musical alliances with other great New York musicians including: David Spinozza, Warren Bernhardt, David Sanborn, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Don Grolnick, and Richard Tee.

Tropea has written and arranged music for film and broadcast advertising. With his frequent co-producer and friend Will Lee, Tropea released “Simple Way to say ‘I Love You,’ and “Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blues” Live gigs from that era by The Tropea Band at Mikell’s, in New York City, remain legendary. He also composed the song "Tambourine", which was used as the close for WABC's Eyewitness News broadcasts from 1977 to 1980. Along with his own projects, Tropea currently plays with the Original Blues Brothers Band.

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