I have always enjoyed music played by a good trumpet player. When I think of a trumpet player, the name Tom Harrell comes to mind. I drafted an article about Tom during my college years and was amazed at what I learned about him. I found Tom to be a magnificent human being. Tom started playing the trumpet when he was eight years old. And in 1969, he became a professional trumpet player. Tom was considered one of the best creative jazz trumpeters and composers towards the end of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Most musicians struggle to create something wonderful and magical out of their music. Unfortunately, many individuals are turned away by the musical world because they are considered not “talented enough” to play. Millions of people all over the world travel every day with high hopes of breaking into the world of music and daydreaming of becoming a famous musician. What makes Tom Harrell special? In a world where most normal-thinking people struggle to rise in the musical world, Tom was incredibly different altogether. He never gave up, even when he was diagnosed with a horrible illness.
Tom fought back against one of the most crippling mental disorders known to mankind. Tom was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia during his late adolescent years while attending his freshman year in college. One must question what made Tom love music? Could his father have influenced him as a small boy? Tom once stated that he had grown up listening to his father whistling to the sounds of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. What made him so special in the musical world to start with?
There were few eight-year-old boys at that time who could play a trumpet and be considered talented. Tom not only learned to play the trumpet at an early age, but he also learned to play the piano by the age of eight. He did not just play music either; at the beginning of his fifth grade, he could compose and arrange music. Tom did something that many adults struggle with and often did not get right. Tom could write musical notes and had the most amazing talent at such an early age of arranging music than most adults.
Several individuals, before meeting him, had often thought that he was an adult. By the time Tom was in the seventh grade, and at the tender age of thirteen, he was playing music professionally. He often traveled worldwide with groups everywhere he could play. Regardless of his illness, Tom graduated in 1969 from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in music composition. Throughout his lifetime, Tom has traveled and played with numerous groups and bands. In 1989, Tom started playing and leading his own bands.
He traveled on a regular schedule throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan. In one year, Tom was known to have performed 80 to 100 times. Tom not only fought with the symptoms of his illness, but he also struggled with the side effects of many different medications that were prescribed to stabilize his symptoms throughout the years. Unfortunately, several medications left side effects of permanent damage to his body. In a world where people often shun those with a mental illness, Tom has gone beyond what most doctors could believe was possible for someone with a mental illness.
I heard him play live on the radio many years ago. I had an aunt who loved his music and had several of his recordings. Regardless of the demons in which he fought throughout the years, he was by far one of the most talented jazz musicians that I have had the joy of hearing play. It is hard to imagine that this talented and gifted musician has such a crippling disease of the mind, but that did not stop him from reaching for his dream. It has been said that when seen in an interview, he is not only gentle spoken but is a humble and gentle human being.
It is the commitment to his music with the incredible talent that he has, regardless of his disease, which has made him an incredibly special person. It is heartbreaking that so many people strongly believe that individuals with severe mental disorders are violent or dangerous, despite research findings. A minority of individuals that I have seen throughout my medical career who were medically diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were pleasant to talk with. Many have a wonderful sense of humor and are highly intelligent in many areas. According to Tom, when playing his music, he feels more at peace with himself.
Tom Harrell is still alive and well. He is still active within the music world and continues to travel, write, record as well as perform music. Tom Harrell was born June 16,1946 and this coming June he will be 80 years old. It is utterly amazing that he continues to be incredibly involved in the musical world. An extraordinarily talented man of great strength and determination. A friend told me about this book that I need to read, “The Definitive Schizophrenia Recovery Handbook.” .Kindle Edition by author Robert Francis. The amazing thing about this author is the fact that he was diagnosed years ago with schizophrenia himself. I am going to enjoy reading this book.
There are two books I like to read on schizoaffective disorder, written by the author, Guenevere MacDonald. “Schizoaffective Disorder: A Patient &Family Guide.” {Mental Health and Wellness. Book One. Paperback Edition and “Schizoaffective Disorder: A Self-Care Guide.” {Mental Health and Wellness} Book Two. Paperback Edition.
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