Tom Worrell learned piano at the age of four, and also plays trombone and bass and sings. He was playing in rock bands when he got hired to tour the world with soul legend Solomon Burke, and Burke's bandleader turned him on to Professor Longhair and James Booker. Worrell soon joined up with Jumpin' Johnny Sansone in New Orleans, and he hasn't looked back.
WWOZ calls Worrell 'a pianist of the first degree' who embodies the spirits of the great Professor Longhair and James Booker whenever he takes the stage. He has worked with a who's who of New Orleans talent, including Walter 'Wolfman' Washington, the Wild Magnolias, Deacon John, Mem Shannon, Johnny Adams, Marva Wright, and Big Marva Wright, and his recording work includes appearances with The Wild Magnolias and on The Professor Longhair Foundation Presents Piano Night at Tipitina's CD.
Worrell is a regular at WWOZ's Piano Night at the House of Blues — he was a featured soloist at the 2017 'Back to the Roots' edition alongside Ellis Marsalis, Marcia Ball, David Torkanowsky, and John Gros. He has performed Professor Longhair's music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum's 'Me Got Fiyo' centennial exhibition and leads Professor Longhair tribute ensembles at the Maple Leaf Bar.
