Thomas Lee Flanagan 16 March, 1930-16 November, 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered as an accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald. He played on a number of critically acclaimed recordings, such as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.
The Tommy Flanagan Trio (with bassist Wilbur Little and drummer Elvin Jones) released their first album, Tommy Flanagan Trio Overseas, in 1957. As an accompanist, Flanagan worked with Ella Fitzgerald from 1963–65 and 1968–78. But beginning in 1975, Flanagan began once again to perform and record as a leader. He continued to work with other players, however, forming a trio with Tal Farlow and Red Mitchell, among other projects.
Flanagan's style was both modest and exceptionally musical. He embodied many of the most important qualities associated with jazz: swing, harmonic sophistication, melodic invention, bluesy feel and humour. Interestingly, he appeared on a number of highly innovative albums. (His awkward solo on the extremely fast and harmonically complex title-track of Giant Steps is a rare [if famous] instance on record of the usually unflappable pianist being caught off-guard.)
During his career, Flanagan was nominated for four Grammy Awards — two for Best Jazz Performance (Group) and two for Best Jazz Performance (Soloist). He died on November 16, 2001, of an arterial aneurysm.
Tommy Flanagan (born July 3, 1965) is a Scottish actor who has had roles in numerous movies.
Flanagan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the middle of five children. At the age of six, his father abandoned his mother. He grew up in a very rough area and admits to getting into some trouble, but that his mother Betty always kept him in line. In his early years Flanagan worked as a painter, decorator and disc jockey. One night, as he left the pub he was a DJ at, muggers told him to give them his coat and records and when he refused, a guy jumped on his back, stabbed him, and scarred his face. He received distinctive scars similar in shape to a Glasgow smile after the mugging that almost left him dead. He nearly died. When he saw his face after his intensive recovery, he did not think that he could return to his old life again. Afterwards Flanagan saw no way of returning to his old life and, at the urging of his friend Robert Carlyle and his wife, took up acting.
Flanagan worked in the Rain Dog theatre for three years before Mel Gibson gave him his first big break in Braveheart (1995). He has subsequently had roles in such major films as Face/Off, Gladiator, Aliens vs. Predator and Sin City. He is featured in the movie Smokin' Aces and also appeared in the movies When a Stranger Calls & The Last Drop. Perhaps one of Flanagan's biggest roles was when he starred opposite Gerard Butler and Simmone Jade Mackinnon in the USA Networks epic mini-series "Attila".
He lives in Los Angeles. He says he likes the rain and misery of Scotland over the sun of California. His Father died in January 2002.
