When he divorced Frank Sinatra's daughter, Nancy Sinatra, Sinatra allegedly saw to it that Tommy's blooming career went permanently on the rocks.
Was a disc jockey at age 12 with a radio station and cut his first record at age 14 which attracted the attention of Col. Tom Parker (Elvis Presley's manager) and RCA Records.
Served in the Air Force Reserves.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1560 Vine St.
Became an immediate overnight sensation after copping the landmark lead in The Singin' Idol (1957), which was the first TV drama on the subject of rock-and-roll. Tommy played a Southern Baptist Elvis Presley-like singer. The single from that show went to #2 on the
Billboard charts.