"We only knew Tom for a short time but though his music and radiant smile he warmed our hearts. Our sympathies to his family and loved ones."
In loving memory of
Thomas Borton
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
Thomas William Borton beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, 55, of Los Angeles, CA, formerly of Indianapolis, IN passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 26, 2011. He was born on January 4, 1956 in Norristown, PA to Robert G. and Phyllis M. (Phelps) Borton. Tom graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis in 1974 and attended Indiana University Bloomington (IN) School of Music. He was a giving, fun-loving individual with a huge heart, as wall as a creatively brilliant producer, performer and composer of music. Tom was founder and CEO of Los Angeles Post Music, Inc, a production music library that provides music for a list of clients including television shows such as LOST, The Mentalist, Sex and the City, the Sopranos, King of the Hill, Friends and advertising clients such as Canon, Verizon, NBC, CBS, Warner Brothers, Banana Republic, Columbia Pictures, Fox Sports, ABC, Toyota, GMC and Baskin Robbins.
Tom was a gifted photographer, a wine connoisseur, and enjoyed entertaining and cooking for family and friends as well hiking in Nashville, IN where he owned a home for three years. Tom?s life long love of music began when he was in the 4th grade in Norristown, PA when he picked up the saxophone and, from that time on never put it down. He specialized in playing alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophone as well as all percussion instruments. Tom was a member of the Eastwood Junior High School band and during 8th grade won the talent show award at Purdue University?s summer music camp. While in high school Tom played for Tarnished Silver a band that included singer Kenny Edmonds who went on to fame as a songwriter under the name Babyface. At Indiana University Tom joined others to form a Bloomington based group called Streamwinner, which included drummer Kenny Aronoff, who went on to become one of the world?s most influential and in demand drummers. Borton?s love for music called him to Los Angeles, CA where by chance he got involved with composition and started writing for television and film music. He built a studio and before long formulated a music catalog. After a series of screen credits, his name and studio name developed a reputation as an international provider of production music and sound design. Under the Blue Moon record label Tom debuted his first album Dancing with Tigers. Borton wrote, produced, mixed and engineered the disc. His music from Dancing with Tigers hit #1 billboard music charts. In the summer of 1987 Borton joined The Big Picture band as a composer and lead on alto saxophone. The band played in musical hot spots through out the LA area. In 1987 Tom received honors for Creative Technical Crafts for The Smithsonian: America?s Time Machine, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 40th annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards. In 2002 Tom played in the Montreux Jazz Festival with Steve Allee in Switzerland. In 2008 LA Post Music continued their long relationship with HBO and produced music for the third installment of the John Adams mini series, ?Don?t Tread on Me?. This pairing of superb production and outstanding music received rave reviews. Tom is survived by his parents, sisters; Rebecca Ann ?Becky? (William) Erdel of Indianapolis, IN and Janis Elaine Borton of Denver CO. His two nephews; Brad (Rachel) and Blake (Kate) Erdel and his great nieces, Chloe and Audrey Erdel. Funeral services will be Sunday August 7th at 4:00 pm in Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46240. Immediately following, a celebration of Tom?s life will be held at the Indianapolis Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave, with a tribute performed by his fellow musicians. You are invited to visit the website www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a personal memory of Tom, sign the guest book or in lieu of flowers make a memorial gift to the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, Tom Borton Scholarship Fund.
Tributes
"A heartfelt hug goes out to Tom's family, especially his sister J. Elaine. It is difficult to lose someone so close to your heart. I am a believer that total peace comes to us when we leave this life on earth. I'm certain that Tom's soul is experiencing that peace now. I also believe that when someone dies their spirit is always with us. May you always feel Tom's spirit, bringing you comfort."
"Tom was a wonderful friend and collaborator. One time we wrote a song called, Candy Wrapper - (yeah corny we knew). In order to get inspired he ate 3 Snickers bars in front of me. I was on a diet.....I hated him.One time he came over to where I was house-sitting and offered to make dinner. Pasta with a red pepper sauce. He put two peppers right on the burner and then walked out of the kitchen. A few minutes later the fire alarms went off and we went in to find a fire on the stove. "Now that would have been embarrassing for you for the people who entrusted you to watch their house," he said.One of my favorite memories is writing a song with Tom called, "Some Heart's Get All The Break's". A beautiful Tom Borton melody. It feels appropriate today. My thoughts are with his family and all of his friends.Dinah Brein"
"dear becky and ur family im so sorry 4 the loss of ur brother im glad i meet tom very nice man very sweet and kind man u and ur family r always in my prayers and heart tom will be missed dearly but never never 4 gotton i love u becky ur friend donna "
"I am so sorry for the Borton family's loss. I always enjoyed listening to Tom's music. You are all in my prayers."
"As a friend of Tom's parents, I was able to meet and be with Tom on several occasions. One tends only to say good things about someone when they are no longer with us, but, in truth, I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about Tom. He was kind and generous to all and gifted with an extrodinary talent which he loved to share. Best of all personally, he played my kind of music. He was a devoted son as part of a loving family. I am witnessing this as I see his sisters band together with his parents as they attempt to deal with the tragedy of losing their beloved son and brother. If it had been any one of them, I know he would have been there for them. They are all blessed to have had him in his too short life as he was to have had them. He will be missed.Jo Lesher"
"My memories of living in Indiana are not complete without thinking of the deep and enduring friendship of my sister with Becky. Through that friendship we had the honor of being introduced to the beautiful magic that Tom created with his music. We feel so blessed that we can still listen to his gift and be uplifted by his talent. We are so sorry for this loss and our prayers and love go to all of your family. Angels on your pillow Tom and we have to believe that heaven sounds a bit more beautiful with your presence there. Love, Michele and Jay"
"I had the pleasure of meeting Tom several times in Denver through Elaine. He was very fun loving and quick with a smile. I'm so very sorry that he left his family and friends much earlier than any of you expected or wished for. May the love of your friends give you comfort and energy to help you move through these next few days and months. My thoughts are with all of you tomorrow (Sunday)."
"My brother Scott, who lives in Noblesville, called me the other day to tell me this sad news. Even though I hadn't spoken with Tom in many years (since my days in Dallas), I wept to hear that he was gone. Tom was my first true love and the perfect high school boyfriend.I remember when he would put lunch for me in my French Horn locker (and he always remembered that I liked 2 hamburgers with mustard and pickles, large fries, and a vanilla shake- and he never made me feel like that was too much for a girl to eat!). He was always kind and considerate in that way.Just the other day when my teenage daughter was having dating issues, I went to my mother's house and brought up from her basement a large poster that Tom had made me entitled "This is Love in 1973". It was a collage of all our fun little teenage things, even a swatch from the dress I wore to Junior Prom. I showed it to my daughter and said "Now, this is what a GOOD boyfriend does!"I feel sad that I didn't stay in touch but have many wonderful photos and lovely memories. My heart breaks for his family and friends- I'm sure the loss of Tom in your life is tremendous. I'm so sorry."
"I learned about Tom"
"To my Aunt Phyl, Uncle Bob, Becky, and Janis,May we all have comfort in knowing that Tom's smile, thoughtfulness, and music are sweetening Heaven for all those who have gone before us. He made the world a better place, and he will be missed.Love and Hugs to all of you,Debbie "
"I offer my heartfelt condolences to all of Tom"
"... so that night we are all together in Montreux ... Steve Allee and the band ... the boys are on stage... the crowd is into the music... and you can see palm trees by the water, and snow on the mountains across the lake... and Tom Borton smiles and takes a solo ... and it's like we're all in a movie... and it's a great movie ...and we never want to leave."
"I remember Tom from Indiana University days when he played with the band Streamwinner with fellow friends David Grissom and Kenny Aronoff. He was so talented. I think he is one reason why I developed such a love for the saxaphone. Only great memories of him from days gone by. To his family and loved ones, may you smile at the wonderful memories he left behind even though I know you have heavy hearts. My deepest condolences."
"I was so saddened to hear of Tom's passing from my brother Jont in Indianapolis. I have only fond memories of Tom at NCHS: lots of fun adventures around band, the huge excitement when he first got his soprano sax, his signing the guest book at our house and learning he shared the same birthday with our mother, his great sense of fun, and of course his enormous musical talent, which we knew we would all be hearing from for years to come. I'm grateful to have known him, and send my love and deepest condolences to all his family and dear friends.Barb Rogers Makransky"
"Dear Phyllis, Bob and family, We were so saddened to hear about Tom's untimely passing and sorry that we could not attend the service and tribute for him. He was an all around great person, in addition to being so talented at so many things. He burned brightly during his all-too-brief time on earth and will be greatly missed by everyone that he touched. You are in our hearts and prayers. "
"I just heard the news about Tom. Please accept our condolences. I have not been in touch since his operation and I know that that was hard on him. Tom and I worked on a bunch of projects, one of which resulted in a CD. We worked in his studio quite a bit and I got to know this wonderful , kind person. To his family....I can say that Tom was an artist at heart and an amazing producer and a wonderful soul. I will miss him and our long talks. So long my friend. "
"Tom was an amazing musician, writer, producer, creator and friend. Tom and I began song collaborations in the 1980's and then co-formed the band "The Big Picture" which performed to rave audiences at the Roxy Theatre and all over the Los Angeles area.I am so saddened by Tom's passing, it's difficult to realize that this amazing musical Soul has left us so early in his masterful and creative life !!!! My heart goes out to his precious family at this difficult time... Joanna "
"My heartfelt sympathies go out to Tom's family. Tom and I shared many musical experiences throughout high school at North Central. We started off next to each other in the saxophone section of the band, played together in Jazz Band, and ended up in a band of 8 boys and 1 girl we called "Albatross". He was always fun, delightful to be around, and of course, very musically gifted. Everybody loved Tom and looked up to him in many ways. He will be sorely missed by so many and was loved by all who knew him."