Tommy Joe Fry
Biography
Tommy Joe Fry (b. 23 October 1933, Sweetwater, Tx. – 16 July 2020, San Antonio, Tx.) was an American composer, conductor and educator.
Fry studied at McMurry University and Sul Ross State University. He was director of bands in the public schools of Texas for six years, and manager of a company and the music buyer of its chain of five stores for 19 years. During those 19 years, he made 400 appearances as clinician and conductor with bands and orchestras.
In 1979, Mr. Fry was appointed director of bands at McMurry University, Abilene, Tx., serving in that position for ten years. This was followed by a nine-year tenure as associate professor of music, teaching theory, composition, orchestration, and conducting. In addition, he founded and was the director of the McMurry University Music Computer Lab. He retired from McMurry University as an associate professor emeritus in 1997, then served as an editor and music education consultant with Southern Music Company in San Antonio, Texas, until 2012.
Throughout his career, and even in his retirement, Tommy Joe wrote numerous compositions for both band and orchestra. Many of his compositions were works commissioned by various performance groups or were written for smaller, more personally specific groups. His compositions remain on various state UIL band and orchestra prescribed music contest lists throughout the United States and many pieces are played widely internationally as well.
Fry was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame by the Texas Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in July 2001.
Works for Winds
- Blasenfest (1967/1971/2002)
- A Pacific Trilogy (2002)
- Three Fanfare (1971)
- Triptych
- William Tell Overture (as editor; arr. Leidzen) (1829/1938/2007)
- A Triumphal Exit for Concert Band (1978)
- Two Fanfares for the Uncommon Band (1975)
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Tommy Fry." Accessed 16 January 2021
- "Tommy Joe Fry." Dignity Memorial. Web. Accessed 16 January 2021