Biography

Tom Ingrassia is a motivational speaker, life coach, writer and pop music historian. In 2001, Tom left a successful, 25-year career in higher education administration to pursue his lifelong dream—reinventing himself as a celebrity/entertainment manager. Today, he manages a roster of 14 eclectic artists, ranging from concert organists Scott Lamlein, Martin Setchell, and Edward Broms; to Legendary Girl Group members Arlene Smith (original lead singer of The Chantels), Barbara Alston (of The Crystals), and June Monteiro (of The Toys); jazz groups the Sheila Landis Trio and the Hot Cat Jazz Band; actress Dee Wallace Stone; and drumming master artist Bob Bloom.

Tom is an accomplished music journalist with over 25 articles printed in music publications ranging from Billboard and Goldmine, to Record Auction Monthly, Soul Survivor and San Francisco Hot Ticket. Currently, he is collaborating with Barbara Alston on her forthcoming autobiography, There’s No Other (release date: November 2007), and recently edited Carl Gardener’s (of The Coasters) autobiography, Yakety Yak, I Fought Back (currently in distribution). He also worked with Mary Wilson on a coffee table book about her life with The Supremes, as well as being the Creative Director of Supreme Legacy®, the merchandising division of Mary Wilson Enterprises, from 2001 to 2004.

Tom has been a consultant to a number of entertainment and media outlets, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum; WCVB-TV (Boston); WBZ-TV (Boston); WHDH-TV (Boston); WXYZ-TV (Detroit). He has done numerous radio and television interviews (most recently on the Comcast Cable Network’s news magazine, “New England Newsmakers”), as well as guest lecturing for college and community groups. In 2002 and 2004, he worked closely with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to coordinate the unveiling ceremony for the Legendary Girl Groups Commemorative Stamps (2002), and “Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy® Gown Collection (2004). In 1993, he was one of the judges for the Miss Massachusetts Pageant, helping to select Massachusetts’ representative to the Miss America Pageant. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the Music Alive! Concert Series at Wesley United Methodist Church, as well as business manager for North Forty Road Music Productions.

Prior to entering the entertainment industry in 2001, Tom spent 25 years in higher education administration and private industry. His affiliations include: Clark University; Regis College; The State Mutual Companies; Assumption College; Urbana College; and West Virginia Northern Community College. During his tenure in academia, Tom honed his skills in event planning and coordination, project management; recruitment, marketing, fund raising, staff supervision, and time management. Tom’s career in academia culminated in the position of Academic Dean at the Graduate School of Management at Clark University. Tom earned his bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Geneseo, and holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut.

Building on his dramatic career change from academic dean to entertainment manager, Tom is writing a book about managing career change and  following ones dreams to achieve goals, and offers a motivational lecture program based upon his experiences, titled, “Making A Difference Begins With You…So Live Into Your Dreams!.” He also offers the academic lecture program, “Motown and the Civil Rights Movement,” and the entertaining, “From Middletown to Motown.” He is currently working on a book based on his experiences.

Memorabilia from the Thomas Ingrassia Collection has been exhibited at the Whitney Gallery (Los Angeles, 1987); the Barbican Centre (London, 2000); Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Cleveland, 2004); Vocal Group Hall of Fame (part of permanent collection); The LBJ Presidential Library (Austin, 2004-05); and the Albany (NY) Institute of History and Art (2005). In March, 2007, the Lockhart Gallery at the State University of New York at Geneseo presented Tom’s latest exhibition, “Girl Power: The Supremes as Cultural Icons.”

Tom’s motto is, “Have the courage to follow your heart, because your heart will never steer you in the wrong direction. You will find your dream in that place where your heart meets your mind and your soul.”

SOME OF TOM’S RECENT APPEARANCES INCLUDE:

Long Island Museum, Stony Brook, NY
State University of New York at Geneseo
The Lockhart Gallery, Geneseo, NY
The Albany (NY) Institute of History & Art
Wesley United Methodist Church, Worcester, MA
Association for Continuing Higher education 69th Annual Conference

See Praise for Tom's Programs

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