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ASSEMBLED MULTITUDE

“OVERTURE FROM TOMMY (A ROCK OPERA)”

(Pete Townsend)

Atlantic 2737

No. 16   August 29, 1970

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Thomas Coleman Sellers (bass, keyboards) was born and raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Back in Wayne 39

years later, on March 9, 1988, Tommy died in a freak fire in his parents’ home. His career saw him labor as

an arranger, producer, songwriter, singer, and musician. At death’s door he was full of promise.

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In the mid-’60s, Tom became involved with ex-SPOKESMEN John Madara’s production company as a

songwriter. Madara matched, then long-haired, Sellers up with Daryl Hall, Jim Helmer, and Tim Moore.

They all recorded together as Gulliver.  Madara placed an album of these winnable and now-rare tracks

with Elektra. Nothing much happened, and by year’s end, the group was no more.

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The Assembled Multitude was a spur-of-the moment studio conception, concocted at the famed Sigma Sound

Studios in Philadelphia.  Sellers rounded up some of what would later become the One-Hit MFSB–as he

had done months earlier when he arranged/produced/wrote ELECTRIC INDIAN’s “Keem-0- Sabe”–and

slapped together some orchestrated reworkings of a theme from the Who’s Tommy album, Crosby, Stills,

Nash & Young’s “Woodstock” (#79, 1970), and a medley of jewels from “Jesus Christ Super­star” (#95,

1971).

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When the Assembled concept had worn itself out, Tom dismantled the Multitude and returned to the

studios to produce sessions for Eric Anderson, Chubby Checker, Millington, Essra Mohawk, SILVER, and the

Righteous Brothers.

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During the mid-’70s, Sellers worked in New York City for Radio Band of America, composing and arranging

radio and TV commercials. During his career, he garnered four Clio awards, was affiliated with six gold

records, and two Grammy nominations. With high hopes, just prior to his death, he had formed his own

production company, Tom Sellers Productions.