This is a scan from a magenta aluminum printing plate probably for a promotional brochure. The caption from the plate reads: 

"Thomas Kay studied at Pratt Institute, The Art Students League and the Philadelphia School of Design.  He is represented in many private collections and has been associated with the Laurel and Little Galleries in New York. He has done commissioned works for television, motion pictures and various independant production companies in the advertising field."

Tommy did a number of paintings of Dick Cavett he called his ITSO (InThe Style Of) series: Dick Cavett painted in the style of a famous painter. The photo on the left is Cavett as if painted by Rembrandt.

From Metronome Magazine August 1945.

With Jimmy D'Aquisto Guitar

Jimmy was considered the Stradivarius of guitar makers.

(also see under Paintings)

Photo by Charles ("Chuck") Stewart.  Stewart was known for his portraits of jazz singers and musicians. His photo's were used on more than 2,000 album covers.

Artwork for the Dick Cavett Show DVD  collection.  Tommy did the drawing of Cavett.

Signed publicity photo from "Ellie" to "Tommy". The reference to working together was probably from the movie "I Dood It"' with Red Skelton.

She writes, " To Tommy, Thank you for all your kindness - I do hope we work together soon again. Good luck. Don't forget -

Ellie  1942 "

In David Thomson's bio of Ms. Powell, in his "The New Biographical Dictionary of Film," writes the following : " You are in solitary confinement for the rest of your life. There is a screen built into the cell wall, and it is a condition of your sentence that you may have just one sequence from a movie to play on that flat screen. This is my choice: black and white and a hard reflective floor, a set that recedes into darkness. Fred (Astaire) in all white with a black bowtie. Eleanor Powell wears three-quater heels and a dress that stops just below the knees. She wears short sleeves and puff shoulders; the skirt is magnificently light and fluid, moving to the sway of the profound, yet casual, tap masterpiece, "Begin the Beguine," from "Broadway Melody of 1940." Much of the dance is in exact unison, but there are fleeting solos and imitation repeats, as well as exquisite arm movements, especially from Powell. I know of nothing as exhilerating or unfailingly cheerful, and maybe the loveliest moment in films is the last second or so, as the dancers finish, and Powell's alive frock has another half-turn, like a spirit embracing the person. Give credit to Taurog (the films director), to dance director Bobby Connolly, to Astaire as always, but still this is a rare Astaire dance in that the lady actually holds the eye. Powell was not much of an actress, she was a modest singer, and she was singlemindedly a tap dancer. But this is rapture."

 There is, on You Tube, a tribute to Fred Astaire, where Powell talks about the weeks of rehearsals it took to create this number. They took 2 weeks just on arm movements.

I have included the You Tube vidieo of this Cole Porter classic. Whenever I am down in the dumps I watch this and it never fails to lift my mood.

A photo of my father along with the terrific actor Robert Morse from his tv series "That's Life"(1968-69). In this scene dad is in lock up for some reason, playing his guitar while accompanying the singing of Mr. Morse.