Thomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist
in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the older brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead
guitarist in that band.
Early life and career Tom Fogerty was born in Berkeley, California.
Tom and John are of Irish descent.
He began singing rock and roll in high school, just as his brother, John Fogerty did.
He and his brother had separate groups.
Tom's band, Spider Webb and the Insects, signed a recording contract with Del-Fi Records but
broke up in 1959 before releasing any records.
John's band The Blue Velvets, began backing Tom, and eventually Tom joined John's band,
and the group recorded three singles for Orchestra Records in 1961 and 1962, with Tom as lead
vocalist.
In the mid 1960s, the group was called The Golliwogs and recorded with Fantasy Records,
with Tom and John sharing lead vocal duties.
By 1968 the band was renamed Creedence Clearwater Revival, when John had become full-time lead
singer and primary songwriter.
During the few years of the life of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom sang backing vocals
and wrote songs, but only one of his songs was recorded.
This lack of opportunity, along with festering, long-standing animosity with his brother,
led him to leave the band in 1971.
After leaving the band, Fogerty began performing and recording as a solo artist.
His relationship with his brother John remained strained.
Tom was bitter at having his contributions overlooked.
In the pre-CCR days, Tom had been singer, songwriter, and, generally, manager of the
act.
Tom Fogerty had minor hits like "Goodbye Media Man" and "Joyful Resurrection".
He remained with Fantasy Records and his 1971 solo debut album, Tom Fogerty, reached #78
on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.
On the follow-up, Excalibur, Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders played on the sessions.
Stu Cook and Doug Clifford and John Fogerty performed on the 1974 follow-up album, Zephyr
National.
The song "Joyful Resurrection" features a complete reunion of CCR though John Fogerty
recorded his parts separately.
Cook and Clifford also backed Tom on his second LP release of 1974 titled Myopia.
Throughout the rest of the 1970s and 1980s, Tom Fogerty continued to record.
He claimed all royalties and sued Fantasy Records; when Tom re-signed with Fantasy,
Tom Fogerty lived comfortably in Scottsdale, Arizona for the remainder of his life, thanks
to his Creedence royalties.
He was an occasional surprise call-in guest on local radio station KSLX-FM.
At the October 1980 reception for Tom's marriage to Tricia Clapper, all four members of CCR
reunited and performed for the first time in a decade.
They took the stage once more for a final time at a school reunion three years later.
Death On September 6, 1990, Tom Fogerty died in
Scottsdale, Arizona of AIDS, having contracted HIV from blood transfusions for back ailments.
After his death, a music compilation titled The Very Best of Tom Fogerty was released.
John Fogerty was featured on an episode of VH1's Legends program in the mid 1990s, and
during the show Fogerty stated he was by Tom's side as he died, and Tom's final words to
John were, "Saul Zaentz is my best friend."
John says that he was devastated by Tom's remark because it was meant as an insult John,
which meant that Tom and John would never have the chance to reconcile.
John was involved in numerous legal battles with Zaentz that caused rifts between John
and the other members of CCR.
John's battles with Zaentz were so acrimonious that John walked away from the music industry
for 9 years before releasing Centerfield in 1985.
Discography Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival – 1968 Bayou Country −1969
Green River – 1969 Willy and the Poor Boys – 1969
Cosmo's Factory – 1970 Pendulum – 1970
As a solo artist Tom Fogerty – 1972
Excalibur – 1972 Zephyr National – 1974
Myopia – 1974 Deal It Out – 1981
Sidekicks – released posthumously in 1992 Ruby
Ruby – 1976 Rock & Roll Madness – 1978
Precious Gems – 1984 Other releases
Fire Up Plus – 1992 The Very Best of Tom Fogerty – 1999
Tom Fogerty Live in California 1982 External links
Allmusic biography by Richie Unterberger