About Tom Coppola
Lived 1945 – 2023 (aged 78). Tom Coppola was an American jazz musician, composer and pianist.
Thomas Wilkinson Coppola (June 6, 1945 - December 29, 2023) was a pianist, composer and arranger, known for being a principal member of the group Air. He also formed Evans and Coppola with vocalist Lucianne Evans and performed with the Tom Coppola Trio.
Tom Coppola began working as a musician in Manhattan in the 1960s, where he met Carolyn Brooks (soon to become Googie Coppola) and Air was formed. Air's self-titled first album was released in 1971. The band's best known album, Shine the Light of Love was released in 1980. Subsequently, the group went on permanent hiatus.
He worked for NBC as a music producer and the Tom Coppola Trio, and taught in the music department at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Coppolla was also associated with musicians Herbie Mann. Lenny White, Bobby Matos, and Chick Corea.
He died on December 29, 2023.
Publications Jazz Standards for Piano, Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, January 1, 1998
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Tom Coppola?
American musician (1945–2023)
When was Tom Coppola born?
Tom Coppola was born on 6 June 1945.
When did Tom Coppola die?
Tom Coppola died on 29 December 2023.
What was Tom Coppola's occupation?
Tom Coppola was a jazz musician, composer and pianist.
What nationality was Tom Coppola?
Tom Coppola was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tom Coppola. https://biography.guide/tom-coppola/
MLA: "Tom Coppola." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tom-coppola/.
Chicago: "Tom Coppola." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tom-coppola/.
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