Born: October 19, 1939 in Toronto
One of Canada's first Canadian solo acts, Ambrose appeared at age seventeen on CBC TV's 'Cross-Canada Hit Parade'. With three years of road work under his belt he would be given a chance to exercise his exceptional talent on his own variety show - The Tommy Ambrose Show (also on CBC-TV). In 1959, Ambrose had his first hit, "The Magic Of You", which reached number 23 on the Canadian charts.
Ambrose's variety show was cancelled in 1963 and he went back on the road briefly before realizing he preferred recording better. He would find himself working with both Phil Ramone (Paul McCartney, Billy Joel) and the Count Basie Orchestra.
In the late '60's Ambrose moved into TV and radio production with partner Larry Trudell while still maintaining a recording career. Ambrose would hit big again in 1974, this time in the country genre, with "One Summer Song" but television beckoned him once more and he launched the gospel program 'Celebration' on CBC-TV which lasted through the 1975-76 season.
In 1978 Ambrose went jazz and recorded two albums with Doug Riley (Dr. Music, Klaatu). Riley had experience as production and arrangement co-ordinator with former partner Terry Brown at Toronto Sound Studio so Ambrose made him a third company partner along with Trudell in 1979.
Ambrose hit pay dirt in the '80's with jingle productions and even named his own Toronto jazz bar Jingles, often entertaining guests with variations on a jazz combo with Doug Riley and other pick-up musicians until the bar's closing in 1989.
Singles
1959 The Magic Of You (Sparton)
1959 Remember Remember (Sparton)
1961 We're Not Too Young (Sparton)
1961 Unchained Melody (Sparton)
1974 Our Summer Song (???)
Albums
1962 Young Tommy Ambrose (Sparton)
1978 Sweet Times (Phonodisc)
1980 Ambrose At Last (Phonodisc)
Video
Compilation Tracks
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