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Tommy Flanagan was born Thomas Lee Flanagan on March 16, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing clarinet at age six and switched to piano just five years later. By the ‘50s he had become a part of the fertile Detroit scene until moving to New York in 1956.

After his arrival and until his long association with Ella Fitzgerald beginning in 1963, Flanagan worked regularly as a sideman, cut leader sessions for New Jazz, Prestige, Savoy and Moodsville, worked with Oscar Pettiford, J. J. Johnson, Harry “Sweets” Edison and Coleman Hawkins.

It was in 1975 just three years prior to his leaving Ella Fitzgerald that he regained his soloist chops, leading superior recording sessions with his swinging and creative post-bop style.

Flanagan recorded for several American and Japanese labels but came to true prominence with his Sunset and The Mockingbird recording in 1998 followed a year later by Samba for Felix.

In his latter years Tommy Flanagan, known also for his flawless and tasteful playing, suffered from a heart condition. However, despite his health problems, the pianist continued to tour and perform until the end of his life when he passed away of an arterial aneurysm at age 71 on November 16, 2001 in Manhattan, New York.

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