Cornetist Tom Saunders (b. Detroit 1938) has been the leading figure of Detroit’s dixieland (or “traditional jazz”) scene for forty years. In 1962, after playing jazz around Detroit on a part time basis, and having returned from a three-year stint in the US Navy, Saunders quit his job to go on tour with Pee Wee Hunt. Tom has been playing full time ever since. He remains one of the few performers, anywhere, to continue to play authentic Dixieland jazz successfully as a full time performer.

In the 1960’s Tom Saunders’ Surf Side Six became one of Detroit’s most popular bands…initially at the Surfside Lounge on East Jefferson, then later at the Dearborn Towne House and finally for a 12 year run at the Presidential Inn, playing six nights a week with a six piece band. During this period Tom took periodic time out to travel, performing on occasions with such greats as Eddie Condon, Ralph Sutton, Bobby Hackett, Arvell Shaw, Herb Hall, Claude Hokins, Peanuts Hucko and others.

Saunders’ “hot/swing style” is a personal jazz sound, but his strongest influence came from his friend, mentor and early performing partner, the legacy 1920’s cornetist Wild Bill Davison (of Eddie Condon’s classic Commodore Records’ fame…among many more). In the 60’s Davison visited Detroit often, taking the young Saunders under his wing, helping shape his sound, style and even his bandstand personality humor. Tom recorded with Wild Bill and also toured with him to Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and England. In 1989 Saunders produced a video documentary of the life of Davison and, following Bill’s death that year, formed the “Wild Bill Davison Legacy All Stars” (a band of top soloists from across America) to tour and keep alive the fiery traditional style epitomized by his hero Davison.

After the demise of the jazz nightclub scene in the late 80’s, Saunders made a successful transition becoming a solo ”name” touring artist and bandleader. He remains one of Detroit’s most in-demand touring artists, playing annually across America and Europe, at jazz festivals, societies and jazz parties. He has taken his Dixieland sound to Hawaii and China as well. Tom is also Music Director of the popular Central Illinois Jazz Festival.

Saunders continues a prolific career after cutting his first LP with Wild Bill in 1965 for Jazzology. He has released albums as a leader on his own Lorelei label and on Bountiful, Parkwood (Canada), Fat Cat Jazz, Arbors, Timeless (Holland) and Nagel Heyer (Germany) and as a sideman on quite a few others.

When not on the road Tom leads his “Detroit All Stars” in and around the city and appearing monthly at a local hangout, and in front of his most devoted fans, such as Marge’s Bar and Grill in Grosse Pointe Park and, and annually as opening act of the Ford International Jazz Festival. Tom Saunders remains one of the unique artists of Detroit’s music scene, and occupies a special role as one of the few remaining players with direct connection to the original creators of jazz.