Tom Whitlock

Thomas Ross "Tom" Whitlock (born 1954), is an American songwriter and musician, best known for his Academy Award-and Golden Globe-winning song "Take My Breath Away" from the film Top Gun, which he co-wrote with Giorgio Moroder.[1]

Tom Whitlock was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. He won the Academy Award in 1986 for the song "Take My Breath Away" (performed by Terri Nunn of the band Berlin) in the movie Top Gun - one of the five songs written for the movie by Whitlock and Giorgio Moroder. "Danger Zone" performed by Kenny Loggins was Whitlock and Moroder's other hit from Top Gun.

Career

Whitlock was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. Many famous musicians visited the city as it hosted television show Ozark Jubilee, influencing Whitlock to play drums. Soon, he was a session musician working with notable composers like Wayne Carson, as well as a drummer for live bands. At the age of 15, Whitlock begun writing songs at the piano.[2] During his high school years at Glendale High School, in Springfield, Missouri, he divided his time between studying during the day and playing drums with rock bands on the weekends throughout the Midwest. He entered Drury University in 1971 to major in music. The university honored him as Distinguished Alumni in 1998, and with an honorary doctorate in music the following year.[3][4]

In 1983, Whitlock travelled to Los Angeles, California, planning to start a band there. While helping his friend Dave Concors at the now defunct studio Davlen Sound Studios, Whitlock met famed composer Giorgio Moroder as he complained about brake defects in his Ferrari. Whitlock purchased some cans of brake fluid and proceeded to fix Moroder's car. Moroder eventually hired Whitlock for work at his studio. In the meantime, he studied recording with Moroder's engineer Brian Reeves, given the studio was busy with films such as Scarface, Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop, and wrote his own songs.[2] Prior to the production of the Top Gun soundtrack, Moroder found his songwriting partners Keith Forsey and Pete Bellotte unavailable, and knowing Whitlock was a lyricist invited him for the project.[2] Whitlock and Moroder co-wrote five songs for Top Gun including "Take My Breath Away" and the Kenny Loggins hit "Danger Zone". ASCAP shows 113 songs registered, performed by artists such as Berlin, Bonnie Tyler, Jennifer Rush, Michael McDonald, Ray Charles, Graham Nash, Diana Ross, Teddy Pendergrass, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle.

Whitlock and Moroder had other collaborations, for the films Over the Top, American Anthem and Rambo III, and also co-wrote the official theme songs for both the 1988 Summer Olympics ("Hand In Hand") and the 1990 FIFA World Cup ("To Be Number One").

In 2012, the Library of Congress honored Whitlock for his songwriting contributions.[5] Whitlock is also drummer of the Missouri band, The Dog People, with Michael Granda (aka Supe Dujour), Jim Wunderle, and Terry Wilson.

Filmography of songs

References

  1. ↑ Peaco, Ed. "Whitlock Relishes Lives of His Songs." News-Leader 25 May 2012. (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120525/LIFE/305250007/)
  2. 1 2 3 Back to the 80s: Interview with Tom Whitlock, co-writer of 'Take My Breath Away' & more – Kickin' it Old School
  3. ↑ Alumni Spotlight: Tom Whitlock '76
  4. ↑ A Drury degree three decades in the making
  5. ↑ Library of Congress to Honor Springfield Native's Contribution to American Music
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