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Tim Cappello
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Tim Cappello (born May 3, 1955),[1][additional citation(s) needed] also credited as Timmy Cappello,[2] is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and vocalist. He is primarily known for his saxophone work supporting Tina Turner in the 1980s and '90s,[3][4][5] as well as for his musical performance in the 1987 vampire film The Lost Boys.[6][7]
He is notable for his muscular physique, his sexually provocative movements during performances, and for a tendency to perform shirtless, with oiled skin and a ponytail.[1][4][6][8]
Early life
[edit]Cappello was born and grew up in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Harrison, New York, which, at the time, had a White Plains, New York, postal address.[1][2] The youngest of three children, his Sicilian father was a local conductor and music teacher.[1] Cappello started music lessons at age 4.[1] When he was 15 years old, Cappello dropped out of high school and was accepted at the New England Conservatory of Music, playing both drums and keyboards for his audition.[1] He later studied saxophone with Lennie Tristano.[1]
Career
[edit]Cappello studied intermittently with Lennie Tristano over a four-year span between touring with performers such as musician Eric Carmen and comedian Billy Crystal.[1] He played saxophone for Peter Gabriel on his album Peter Gabriel 2 (1978)[9] in addition to touring with Gabriel.[10][11] Cappello also toured with Garland Jeffreys in 1978, playing both saxophone and keyboards.[12] After struggling with heroin addiction, Cappello quit the drug "cold turkey" in 1979 and began bodybuilding in 1980.[1] Cappello toured with Carly Simon later that same year, once appearing on stage in a leather g-string, as well as chains and a dog leash by which Simon pulled him onto the stage.[1]
From 1981 to 1982, Cappello fronted his own pop band in New York City called The Ken Dolls[1][13]—a band that included drummer J.P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson (also of The Dictators and Manitoba's Wild Kingdom)[14] and Joe Carroll, a composer/producer who is president and founder of the Manhattan Producer's Alliance (ManHatPro).[13] Cappello's sexual stage presence was further cultivated during his work with The Ken Dolls—performing in a style dubbed "porn pop",[1] Cappello was known to perform in a g-string.[14]
In 1984, Cappello was hired by Tina Turner as her keyboardist and saxophonist.[1] Recording and touring with her over several years, Cappello's work can be heard on Turner's tracks "We Don't Need Another Hero" and "One of the Living" from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) in addition to appearing in the music videos for both singles.[1] Cappello performed on the 1993 soundtrack album What's Love Got to Do with It, playing saxophone as well as singing Ike Turner's vocal parts in an updated version of the song "Proud Mary".[15] Cappello toured with Ringo Starr in 1992 and 1999 as a member of his All-Starr Band.[3][16][17]
At 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, and reportedly 215 pounds (98 kg) in 1985,[1] Cappello's size and appearance helped garner him roles in television and film. In 1987, he appeared in a musical performance in the film The Lost Boys where he both sang and played saxophone in a cover version of the song "I Still Believe" by The Call.[6][7] As an actor, he appeared on the television shows The Equalizer and Miami Vice in 1987, as well as in the films Hearts of Fire with Bob Dylan in 1987 and Tap with Gregory Hines in 1989.[2]
Cappello has composed music for film and television. He has worked with director Carole Langer on three occasions, composing the score for her 1987 film Radium City[2]—a documentary about the women who worked for the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois in the 1920s[18]—for her four-hour documentary series about the Rat Pack for the A&E channel, and for her 2001 TV documentary Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir.[2] He joined Tina Turner at the 1993 National Rugby League Grand Final at the original Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia as part of the Half Time entertainment in front of 42,329 people. Cappello also composed the score for the A&E Biography episode titled "Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown" which first aired in 1996.[2]
In 2018, Cappello played saxophone on the Netflix variety show The Break with Michelle Wolf during a segment called "Saxophone Apologies" during which Wolf addressed the lack of apologies from both Bill Clinton and the press for their treatment of Monica Lewinsky in relation to the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.[19]
In 2018, Tim was featured, along with singer Indiana, on the British Synthwave band GUNSHIP's single "Dark All Day" from the album of the same name. The album rose to number 1 in the Electronic charts in the US, UK, and Canada.
He also released his first solo album, Blood on the Reed, in 2018 and toured to support the album in 2019 and 2020 until COVID-19 hit.
In 2021 Tim was featured in the Netflix docuseries Worn Stories in which he tells about his relationship to his codpiece, first given to him by Tina Turner, as a symbol of strength in the face of the ups and downs of the music business and the saxophone's regard (or lack thereof) in popular music.
In 2021 and 2022, Timmy appeared as one of the rock experts on the AXS show 'The Top 10 Revealed, Starring Katie Daryl', appearing in four episodes in 2021 and again in 2022.
He made an appearance in June 2022 in a 35 minute video concert collaboration between Stranger Things and Doritos called 'Live From The Upside Down' starring Charli XCX, The Go-Go's, Corey Hart, and Soft Cell.
Cappello toured the US all through 2022 in support of his album Blood on the Reed.
In September 2022, Cappello was featured in the season 2 finale of the FX series Reservation Dogs. Cappello appears in the closing scene singing and playing saxophone to "I Still Believe" with White Jesus.
In September 2023, GUNSHIP released the "Unicorn" album, in which Cappello is featured in 'Monster in Paradise', 'Empress of the Damned' and 'Tech Noir 2' alongside other featured artists.
In December 2024, Cappello was once again featured alongside GUNSHIP in 'China in Your Hand'.
In popular culture
[edit]Actor Jon Hamm portrayed a pony-tailed, shirtless saxophonist named "Sergio" in an SNL Digital Short titled "The Curse", which aired on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on January 30, 2010.[6][20] In the short, Andy Samberg's character is cursed by Sergio, who appears out of nowhere playing his saxophone at inopportune times.[6][20] Sergio's dancing and appearance resembled Cappello's performances in the film The Lost Boys and in the video for Tina Turner's 1985 single "One of the Living" from the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack.[1][6][7][20]
In 2011, a video of a saxophone player interrupting college classes, and other public scenes, while repeatedly playing the saxophone riff from the 1984 pop ballad "Careless Whisper", was circulated on social media websites such as BuzzFeed[21] and Urlesque.[22] The saxophonist in the video, also known as Sexy Sax Man, is shirtless, long-haired and is named Sergio Flores, echoing both Cappello's image and Jon Hamm's character's in the SNL parody.[21][23] Paste magazine ranked the video #3 on their list of the 10 best viral videos of 2011.[24]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- Blood on the Reed (2018)
Guest appearances
[edit]- "Perspective", "Home Sweet Home" (from Peter Gabriel's Peter Gabriel) (1978)
- "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", "One of the Living" (with Tina Turner from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack) (1985)
- "Typical Male" (with Tina Turner and Phil Collins from Break Every Rule) (1986)
- "I Still Believe" (from The Lost Boys soundtrack) (1987)
- "Tonight" (with Tina Turner and David Bowie from Tina Live in Europe) (1988)
- "Look Me in the Heart", "Ask Me How I Feel" (from Tina Turner's Foreign Affair) (1989)
- "Dark All Day" (from Gunship's Dark All Day) (2018)
- "Los Feliz" (from Sonder Wilde's Los Feliz) (2019)
- "Monster in Paradise" (from Gunship's Unicorn) (2023)
- "Empress Of The Damned" (from Gunship's Unicorn) (2023)
- "Nuclear Date Night" (from Gunship's Unicorn) (2023)
- "China in Your Hand" (Single from Gunship) (2024)
- "Outro" (from Bonginator's Retrodeath) (2025)
- "Light's Last Stand" (from The Protomen's Act III: This City Made Us) (2026)
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Lost Boys | Beach Concert Star | |
| 1987 | Hearts of Fire | Nico | |
| 1989 | Tap | Harry | Uncredited |
| 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It | Keyboard Player |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Miami Vice | Arzola | Episode: "Theresa" |
| 1987 | The Equalizer | Shopkeeper | Episode: "A Place to Stay" |
| 1987 | The Equalizer | Roadie | Episode: "Inner View" |
| 2021 | Worn Stories | Himself | |
| 2022 | Reservation Dogs | Himself | Episode: "I Still Believe" |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Fricke, David (November 29, 1985). "Tina's 'Tarzan' not just a muscle man". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Rolling Stone Magazine. p. 37. Retrieved December 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Timmy Cappello at IMDb
- ^ a b Wild, David (July 7, 2011). "Ringo Starr, Confident and Sober: Rolling Stone's 1992 Feature Story". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b Crain, Zac (May 26, 2005). "The Legend of Billy Hicks. Or, why sax player is no longer a viable occupation in rock and roll". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Cericola, Kate (August 23, 1987). "Two summer soundtracks are keeping turntables warm". Star-News. p. 5G. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Kreps, Daniel (February 1, 2010). "Jon Hamm Breaks Out Saxophone, Ham and Buble On "SNL"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c Chaney, Jen (July 31, 2012). "'The Lost Boys' turns 25: A list of 25 great things about the '80s vampireflick". Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ "Dynamic Tina turns out class act". The Pittsburgh Press. August 24, 1985. p. B7. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Peter Gabriel [2] (Media notes). Peter Gabriel. Interscope Records. 1978. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Radford, Chad (March 4, 2020). "'The Lost Boys' Actor Tim Cappello Is the Real Sexy Sax Man". Flagpole. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ Friend, Lonn (July 11, 2006). Life on Planet Rock: From Guns N' Roses to Nirvana, a Backstage Journey through Rock's Most Debauched Decade (eBook). Random House Digital. p. 103. ISBN 0767922085. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Provick, Bill (June 1, 1978). "Mid-size format works well. Fire low, but Jeffreys still 'pretty good'". Ottawa Citizen. p. 77. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "About the Manhattan Producer's Alliance". manhatpro.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "J.P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson: Punk Rock Renaissance Man". Modern Drummer. October 18, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Browne, David (June 18, 1993). "Sliver;Poetic Justice;What's Love Got to Do with It;Posse;Last Action Hero;Made in America;Super Mario Bros". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Fricke, David (April 3, 1992). "Tina's 'Tarzan' not just a muscle man". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Campbell, Mary (April 2, 1999). "Performing is still a thrill for Ringo Starr". The Albany Herald. The Associated Press. p. D1. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (September 26, 1987). "Radium City (1987) Film Festival; A View of the Radium Dial Horror". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Wilstein, Matt (June 8, 2018). "Michelle Wolf: Bill Clinton Owes Monica Lewinsky an 'Oral' Apology". The Daily Beast. New York City, New York. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c Zulkey, Claire (January 31, 2010). "Jon Hamm/Michael Bublé". A.V. Club. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b Damboise-Taplin, Jade (March 12, 2011). "Sexy Saxman Serenade". BuzzFeed. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Hathaway, Jay (March 28, 2011). "Sexy Sax Man Trolls Everyone in 'Careless Whisper' Saxophone Prank". Urlesque. AOL. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Jr., Billy (March 14, 2011). "Sexy Sax Man 'Careless Whisper' Prank Nears 1 Million Plays". Yahoo Music Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Moore, Bo (December 13, 2011). "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2011". Paste. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
External links
[edit]Tim Cappello
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Childhood and initial musical influences
Tim Cappello was born on May 3, 1955, in Silver Lake, a neighborhood in Harrison, New York.[2][1] As the youngest of three children born to Italian-American parents, he grew up in a household shaped by his Sicilian father's profession as a local conductor and music teacher, which provided early immersion in musical performance and instruction.[6] Cappello commenced formal music lessons at age four, laying the groundwork for his multi-instrumental development amid this familial emphasis on music.[6] His initial musical influences drew from jazz traditions, facilitated by his father's guidance and subsequent private study with avant-garde jazz pianist and pedagogue Lenny Tristano, whose teaching emphasized improvisation and influenced prominent saxophonists like Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh.[7] This early exposure to Tristano's cool jazz methodology, known for its intellectual rigor and harmonic complexity, oriented Cappello toward saxophone as a primary instrument, blending technical proficiency with expressive phrasing before his pivot to rock and pop contexts in adolescence.[8] By his early teens, these foundations propelled him into local performances, though still rooted in the jazz idioms absorbed during childhood.[7]Formal training and early performances
Cappello began music lessons at the age of four, initially focusing on drums and cello under the guidance of his father, a trumpet player and conductor who operated a music school in White Plains, New York.[7] Following his father's death, he transitioned to piano and developed an interest in jazz, later picking up the soprano saxophone at age 14 through self-study influenced by jazz traditions.[7] He attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where he auditioned on drums and keyboard, though he had dropped out of high school at 15.[2] Cappello pursued advanced saxophone training under jazz pianist and educator Lennie Tristano, studying for four years to refine his technique and tone on the tenor saxophone.[2][8] Tristano, known for mentoring saxophonists like Lee Konitz, emphasized improvisational skills that shaped Cappello's early jazz-oriented approach.[7] His earliest professional performance came at age 19 in 1974, serving as a pianist and improviser backing comedian Billy Crystal during stand-up sets at My Father's Place in Long Island, New York, a gig that lasted five years.[2][7] Cappello subsequently played in local clubs, leading to a stint with Eric Carmen's band in the 1970s after being scouted by Carmen's manager.[7] He toured with Garland Jeffreys through 1978 and contributed saxophone to Peter Gabriel's debut solo albums, Peter Gabriel 1: Car (1977) and Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch (1978).[2][8]Professional career
Breakthrough collaborations and band experiences
Cappello's early professional breakthroughs came through saxophone contributions and touring with established artists in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1978, he performed on Peter Gabriel's second self-titled album, providing saxophone parts, and subsequently joined Gabriel's tour, marking one of his initial high-profile rock engagements.[2] These experiences exposed him to progressive rock audiences and honed his stage presence. By 1980, Cappello toured with Carly Simon, who selected him partly for his emerging muscular physique and energetic persona, which aligned with her performance needs.[2] This collaboration, alongside earlier work with Eric Carmen, built his reputation in pop and rock circles, facilitating a decade of touring that preceded his later major associations.[7] In 1981, following his recovery from drug addiction, Cappello formed his own rock band, The Ken Dolls, which played New York venues including CBGB, where they served as an unofficial house band through 1982 before being banned, reportedly due to their provocative style.[9] The band's tenure emphasized Cappello's shift toward a bold, physical stage act combining saxophone with rock energy, laying groundwork for his distinctive performance identity.[2]Association with Tina Turner
In 1984, Cappello was recruited by Tina Turner to join her touring band as a saxophonist and keyboardist following an audition where he impressed her with a saxophone solo on the Beatles' "Help!".[2] He contributed saxophone parts to Turner's recordings for the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack, including "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" and "One of the Living," both released in 1985, and appeared in the music videos for these tracks.[2][10] Cappello remained with Turner's band for approximately 15 years, through 1999, performing on multiple world tours such as the Private Dancer Tour (1984–1985), Break Every Rule Tour (1987–1988), Foreign Affair Tour (1989–1990), What's Love? Tour (1993), and Wildest Dreams Tour (1996–1997).[2] In these live shows, he handled saxophone solos on staples like "Private Dancer" and "The Best," while also providing percussion, keyboards, and backing vocals in later lineups.[2][11] His role enhanced the high-energy rock-soul arrangements, with documented performances capturing his dynamic stage presence alongside Turner's revue-style production.[2]Solo endeavors and live touring
Cappello released his debut solo album, Blood on the Reed, on July 9, 2018, marking his first independent recording project after decades of session and touring work.[12] The 11-track collection blends rock, pop, and saxophone-driven covers such as "I Put a Spell on You" (originally by Screamin' Jay Hawkins) and "Highway 61" (Bob Dylan), with originals including "I Still Believe" and "Only You."[13][14] Available initially as a signed CD and MP3 download through his website, the album emphasized his signature energetic saxophone style.[15] In July 2020, he followed with the three-track single Why I Travel Alone.[16] To promote Blood on the Reed, Cappello launched a dedicated tour in 2019, performing across U.S. venues with sets featuring album material alongside career highlights like his The Lost Boys signature piece.[17] The tour extended into 2020 before being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Resuming live activity afterward, he has maintained a schedule of club dates, theater shows, and convention appearances, including multiple nights at the For The Love of Horror event in Manchester, UK, in October 2023, and U.S. performances at spots like City Winery Philadelphia on October 25, 2025.[18][19] These outings often recreate his high-energy, shirtless saxophone persona, drawing on fan demand for nostalgic renditions of "I Still Believe."[20]Media appearances
Iconic role in The Lost Boys
In the 1987 vampire film The Lost Boys, directed by Joel Schumacher, Cappello portrayed the character known as the Beach Concert Star, appearing in a brief but memorable concert sequence set on the Santa Carla boardwalk.[4] During the scene, filmed over one night in Santa Cruz, California, he performs a saxophone-driven cover of "I Still Believe," originally by The Call, which he recorded in a single take using a basic microphone in under three hours for the film's soundtrack.[4] [21] Cappello secured the role through an impromptu casting process at Warner Bros. studios. While auditioning for an unrelated part in Lethal Weapon, he was recognized as Tina Turner's saxophonist and redirected to Schumacher's office, where the director—having seen Cappello's image in Interview magazine and facing the band's refusal due to religious objections—offered him the gig on the spot following a 30-second meeting and a handshake agreement.[21] [4] He initially proposed an original song co-written with Jim Cregan, but Schumacher selected "I Still Believe" instead, aligning with the scene's high-energy vibe.[4] For the performance, captured in two takes amid a crowd of extras, Cappello customized his attire with tie-dye pink and purple leggings, a codpiece, heavy metal chains sourced from a hardware store, and body oil to accentuate his muscular physique, delivering provocative hip thrusts and jumps that emphasized his stage charisma honed from years touring with Turner.[21] [4] The roughly one-minute sequence, featuring interactions with protagonists like Jason Patric's character amid the boardwalk frenzy, has endured as a cultural touchstone, propelling Cappello's visibility beyond music circles and inspiring parodies, fan recreations, and sustained live renditions decades later.[4] [2]Subsequent film and television roles
Following his appearance in The Lost Boys, Cappello took on supporting roles in several films, often leveraging his musical background. In Hearts of Fire (1987), released later that year, he portrayed Nico, a band member in the rock drama starring Bob Dylan and Fiona Flanagan as a mentor-protégé story involving a rising singer.[22] The film, directed by Richard Marquand, featured Cappello in musical sequences amid its narrative of fame and rivalry.[1] In television, Cappello appeared as a roadie in the The Equalizer episode "Inner View," which aired on October 7, 1987.[23] The episode, from season 3, involved a psychic predicting serial killings and centered on a rock band tour, where Cappello's character supported the performers.[1] Cappello's film roles continued with Tap (1989), where he played Harry, a character discussing innovative tap-rock fusions in the dance drama starring Gregory Hines as an ex-convict returning to his tap-dancing roots. His appearance was uncredited in some listings but contributed to scenes blending music and performance.[24] In What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), the biographical film on Tina Turner's life, Cappello depicted a keyboard player, drawing from his real tenure in her band during the 1980s. The role highlighted the ensemble of musicians supporting Turner's career resurgence. Later appearances included cameo roles as himself. In the Netflix docuseries Worn Stories (2021), episode focused on personal artifacts, Cappello discussed items tied to his career.[25] He also featured in Reservation Dogs season 2, episode "I Still Believe" (2022), performing and nodding to his Lost Boys legacy in a storyline where characters emulate his iconic saxophone scene.[26] These self-referential parts underscored his enduring cult status from the 1987 film.Cultural references and parodies
Cappello's shirtless, oiled saxophone performance of "I Still Believe" in the 1987 film The Lost Boys has inspired numerous parodies emphasizing its exaggerated sensuality and spectacle.[27] In a 2010 Saturday Night Live digital short titled "The Curse," actor Jon Hamm portrayed "Sergio," a hyper-muscular, wall-bursting saxophonist who haunts Andy Samberg’s character, directly mimicking Cappello's thrusting movements and oiled physique from the scene.[28] [29] The sketch aired on January 30, 2010, and amplified Cappello's image as the archetype of the "sexy sax man" in comedic contexts.[28] The performance has also generated online parodies and memes, often dubbing Cappello the original "Sexy Sax Man" predating later viral saxophone memes, with users recreating the oily, pelvic-thrusting style in videos and animations.[27] Amateur impressions, such as comedian Pete Sekulic's 2019 YouTube parody of "I Still Believe," replicate Cappello's energetic delivery and stage presence for humorous effect.[30] Cultural references extend to television, including a 2022 episode of Reservation Dogs where characters reference Cappello by name and discuss his Lost Boys appearance during a saxophone performance of a reimagined "I Still Believe," nodding to the scene's enduring camp appeal among niche audiences.[31] These nods highlight how Cappello's persona, blending musical prowess with visual excess, persists as a touchstone for 1980s excess in pop culture retrospectives.[32]Discography
Solo releases
Cappello's debut solo album, Blood on the Reed, was self-released on July 9, 2018, as a compact disc and digital download.[12][33] The 11-track recording emphasizes his saxophone performances over rock and blues covers, including "Only You" (Yazoo), "Tequila" (The Champs), "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin' Jay Hawkins), "Highway 61 Revisited" (Bob Dylan), and a reworking of his signature "I Still Believe" from The Lost Boys.[34]| Track | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Only You |
| 2 | Tequila |
| 3 | I Put a Spell on You |
| 4 | Highway 61 |
| 5 | Wiggle |
| 6 | I Still Believe |
| 7 | Maybelline |
| 8 | Take Me to the River |
| 9 | Sax (Interlude) |
| 10 | Little White Socks |
| 11 | Blood on the Reed |
