Pinky Tomlin
Encyclopedia
Pinky Tomlin was a singer, songwriter, and bandleader of the 1930s and 1940s. He also acted in occasional motion pictures. During his lifetime, he wrote and published 22 songs, several of which were in the top ten on the "Hit Parade." In 1938, a song he had written, titled "In Ole Oklahoma," was adopted as Oklahoma’s state song.
Born Truman Tomlin in Eros, Arkansas (and nicknamed Pinky because his red hair and fair complexion sunburned easily), he grew up in Durant, Oklahoma. A boyhood fascination with music soon gave him a widespread reputation as a banjoist and, at age 16 he was hired to play on a riverboat in St. Louis, with the Louis Armstrong
band. During that time, Pinky learned to play the guitar, which later became an important part of his live shows, both at the Roxy Theatre in New York and at the Biltmore Bowl in Hollywood.
His disarming, easy style, belied an excellent business instinct and an extensive education in music, law, and geology, on which he would come to rely later in his life.
"Object" became a huge hit. Ella Fitzgerald
chose to sing it at her first "tryout" at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Pinky and Ella became lifelong friends.
Tomlin followed the song with a string of successful songs, including "What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You?)" and "The Love Bug Will Bite You." Hollywood beckoned, and Tomlin was featured in several films for various studios. In 1935 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
offered to groom the young singer and build him up as an actor, but Tomlin preferred to concentrate on his musical career. Tomlin did star in four musical features for Melody Pictures in 1937-38; he also wrote the scores. These films were ambitious, despite their low budgets, and one of them even premiered at the prestigious Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Tomlin's agents, noting the popularity of big bands, suggested that the singer should tour with his own band. In 1939 and 1940 "Pinky Tomlin and His Orchestra" played in theaters, nightclubs, and school proms across most of America, on a whirlwind schedule prepared by the agency. The band was successful, but the constant travel became difficult for Tomlin, as he was devoted to his family. After the tour he confined his appearances to occasional motion pictures and television shows, but he traveled a good deal with the U.S.O. during the Second World War.
He returned to his interest in geology and founded a company in Beverly Hills called "Pinky Tomlin Oil Properties," where he enjoyed working until he retired in 1984. During this time, he had a television show in Los Angeles called "Music Is My Beat." He also continued to perform for many charity events in Los Angeles, being especially active in the Beverly Hills Rotary Club.
Pinky Tomlin’s autobiography, appropriately titled "The Object of My Affection," was published in 1981. Joanne and Pinky Tomlin remained happily married until their respective deaths in 1986 and 1987. They had two children: Sylvia Tomlin Burns of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Truman Virgil Tomlin, Jr., (Tom), of Valley Village, California.
Born Truman Tomlin in Eros, Arkansas (and nicknamed Pinky because his red hair and fair complexion sunburned easily), he grew up in Durant, Oklahoma. A boyhood fascination with music soon gave him a widespread reputation as a banjoist and, at age 16 he was hired to play on a riverboat in St. Louis, with the Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
band. During that time, Pinky learned to play the guitar, which later became an important part of his live shows, both at the Roxy Theatre in New York and at the Biltmore Bowl in Hollywood.
His disarming, easy style, belied an excellent business instinct and an extensive education in music, law, and geology, on which he would come to rely later in his life.
"The Object of My Affection"
He came to national attention while attending the University of Oklahoma. He submitted his original composition, "The Object of My Affection," to orchestra leader Jimmie Grier, who accepted it and asked Tomlin himself to introduce it to the public,. Tomlin had written the song for O.U. coed Joanne Alcorn of Ponca City, Oklahoma, whom he would later marry."Object" became a huge hit. Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
chose to sing it at her first "tryout" at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Pinky and Ella became lifelong friends.
Tomlin followed the song with a string of successful songs, including "What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You?)" and "The Love Bug Will Bite You." Hollywood beckoned, and Tomlin was featured in several films for various studios. In 1935 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
offered to groom the young singer and build him up as an actor, but Tomlin preferred to concentrate on his musical career. Tomlin did star in four musical features for Melody Pictures in 1937-38; he also wrote the scores. These films were ambitious, despite their low budgets, and one of them even premiered at the prestigious Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Tomlin's agents, noting the popularity of big bands, suggested that the singer should tour with his own band. In 1939 and 1940 "Pinky Tomlin and His Orchestra" played in theaters, nightclubs, and school proms across most of America, on a whirlwind schedule prepared by the agency. The band was successful, but the constant travel became difficult for Tomlin, as he was devoted to his family. After the tour he confined his appearances to occasional motion pictures and television shows, but he traveled a good deal with the U.S.O. during the Second World War.
He returned to his interest in geology and founded a company in Beverly Hills called "Pinky Tomlin Oil Properties," where he enjoyed working until he retired in 1984. During this time, he had a television show in Los Angeles called "Music Is My Beat." He also continued to perform for many charity events in Los Angeles, being especially active in the Beverly Hills Rotary Club.
Pinky Tomlin’s autobiography, appropriately titled "The Object of My Affection," was published in 1981. Joanne and Pinky Tomlin remained happily married until their respective deaths in 1986 and 1987. They had two children: Sylvia Tomlin Burns of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Truman Virgil Tomlin, Jr., (Tom), of Valley Village, California.