Thomas William Fowler (June 10, 1951 – July 2, 2024) was an American bass guitarist. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he started playing the violin at age six, before picking up the upright bass, and finally electric bass at age 16. He played with It's a Beautiful Day, Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles, Steve Hackett, and many others. He had four brothers, including trombonist Bruce and trumpeter Walt Fowler.
Fowler also recorded albums with Air Pocket, a band including his siblings among others. Fowler died following complications from an aneurysm on July 2, 2024, at the age of 73.
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Watch Tom Fowler’s powerful bass work in newly released 1974 footage of Frank Zappa’s “Apostrophe'", featuring his heavy, blues-driven groove.
Tom Fowler, known best for his time with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, has died of undisclosed causes. He was 73 years old. The news was shared in part by fellow Zappa alum Arthur Barrow, who paid tribute to Fowler.
Attention Frank Zappa fans: the complete Roxy performances are now available in a seven-CD box set. Recorded in December 1973, Zappa’s concerts at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood are considered a high-water mark of his career with his band The Mothers in top shape. The lineup for The Mothers at the time included keyboardist George Duke, bassist Tom Fowler, trombonist...
![Frank Zappa - I'm The Slime [bass cover]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YzZf81pyx_Q/hqdefault.jpg)
