Holding Down The Bottom

The foundation of every song for Blue Steele was the Bass Guitar player Tom Irion. Tom's bass playing combined with Jim Alvey's drum playing was the best rythmn section I have ever played with in any band. Tom's solid, steady and in the pocket bass playing drove Blue Steele to become a huge success. Tom also an artist infact it was Tom that brought Mark Jarvis to the band. Tom worked during the day for the Smithsonian Institute at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Tom also a loving father of three and a loving husband was a great family man. Tom would arrive just in time for gigs coming straight from a soccer or a hockey game. It was obvious to everyone that Tom's family was the most important thing in his life. Tom brought more than his bass playing to Blue Steele, to me Tom was the best vocalist in the band. The songs Tom brought to the band were more on the side of rock and roll than Blues. Tom loved it when people were on the dance floor dancing it would bring out the best in him. When the dance floor was full and Tom was singing one of his songs, the smile on his face was truly a site to behold. Here is Tom playing and singing on of my favorite Blue Steele tunes. Pleas enjoy Tom covering a Chuck Berry tune"Carol" off of Blue Steele's first album Hot Wired.