Biography

Tommy Tedesco was called
"the most recorded guitarist in history"
by Guitar Player magazine.

Tedesco was Hollywood's first call guitarist for over 35 years, playing on so many pop, rock, and soundtrack recordings that it's not too much of a stretch to say it's more likely the guitarist you're hearing is Tedesco, more than anyone else, on any given pop tune from the 60s and 70s.

This is Tommy Tedesco as I know him. From guitar instruction books and videos. Tommy was a legend in the professional music business.
He died 10 Nov. 1997

I've always been a wannabe guitar player. In this pursuit I discovered numerous instruction videos marketed for budding guitarists like me. I have some of Tedesco's stuff and he is quite a character.

Tommy's reflection on his career, as he tells it, is that he took every gig he could get and faked his way success.

On one of his videos he reflects that one day during an audition, when asked if he could play guitar in a style he didn't know, he said "sure" and played what he thought it should sound like, and acted like it was correct.

And then, when asked to play again in another related style, he added some exagerated flair and showmanship and played the same thing again. Everybody liked it and he got the gig.

And nobody was the smarter.

He was a great guitarest I'm sure. But it was his "If they ask you if you can do it, say yes"
attitude that I found inspiring about Tedesco.

He always tried.

And so, I always try, too.

Hey, Tommy.

Ty Longley was the lead guitar player for the rock band "Great White". He died at a concert show in Boston on 20 Feb 2003, when a fire broke out from the pyro effects used during his band's opening song. Nearly 100 persons died, including Ty.

I never knew him nor did I know about him.
I knew the band's music some from their recordings.

From the TV news I heard that Ty had a website so I checked it out.

As a web designer, I spend alot of time thinking about the future of the internet and where it's going, ala, The Jetsons cartoon show from the '60s.

I spend alot of time looking , and thinking about peoples web pages. I like to look at their ideas.
I like to look at their code.

I look at them all the time. And I especially like to look at them when I hear or see someone and I can connect the website with the owner. I like to see what people are buying and getting for their website dollar.

And so, when I went to Ty Longley's website
I was just looking.

I came upon a time capsul of items and a look into Ty's life.

I felt like I just met him and I could tell he was a pretty nice guy. I went "backstage" and looked at his page code, his layout design, his use of photos and content. All nicely done.

His website included his journel with his thoughts and notes from the road, and an abundance of pictures from his family, friends, fans and gigs.

But the biggest thing I found at Ty's website
was that it had become the place where people, all fans and friends, had been going to for information about Ty and to offer support and condolences to Ty's family.

Much like neighbors stopping by the family home they all left messages on Ty's bulliten board for all to read.

After the fire, Ty remained missing and his girlfriend continued his journal entries
which began with ....

"By now you've heard about the fire ... "

and then a few days later "Ty is gone."

I thought that a website was a fun thing, a business, a place to be creative and to express yourself, and way to put out the "Hello World "
welcome mat.

I missed altogether this aspect of what a website could be. I'm still not sure what to make of it.

Visiting Ty's website seemed like visiting Ty's house, and there, from the Great Beyond,
Ty really opened the door and said ....

"Hey, C'mon in and visit for awhile."

Gary,
This is Heidi Peralta, I am Ty's girlfriend, soulmate, best friend, and mother of his little baby soon to be born! I want to personally thank you for all the kind words you used about Ty. He is the most genuine guy you could've ever known and would do anything to help anyone. He was the most unique and loving man I have ever met. It wasn't long before Ty won my heart. I'm glad to see he touched your heart and many others. I am so proud of him and I know his child will be also. I mourn for him and probably always will. For this to happen to Ty or anyone is beyond unacceptable. I pray that everyone's heart that was torn out from this fire will one day mend even if just a little. Thank you so much again for touching our lives as Ty touched yours.

God Bless and love to you and your loved ones.

Heidi
TyLongley.com

...I am honored to have him remembered on any website. I just want Ty and those whom were also killed to be remembered. This was too big of a loss to ever forget any of those lives.
Love Heid