From The Stage to The Page
Born and Raised in Rahway, New Jersey
A Founding Voice of Cameo
Tomi Jenkins is known the world over as one of the original and founding members of one of the most successful funk, rock, and R&B bands of all time, Cameo and now currently still performing with The Word Up Story band which features Tomi along with 3 of the other founding former members of Cameo, brothers Arnett and Nathan Leftenant, and Gregory Johnson.
Tomi also co-wrote the music for many of Cameo’s biggest hits, including “Candy,” “Word Up,” “Single Life,” “Flirt,” “Back and Forth,” “She’s Strange,” and many others.
In 1989, Tomi’s eponymous solo album, A Life To Remember, was released on Elektra Records.
A Second Act in Storytelling
Writing as Thomas Michael Jenkins
On his 2017 solo EP release, A Life To Remember, he tapped into a deep well-spring of creative and exciting, wholly original music. Currently, Tomi has written and co-produced, with his talented production team, Sound Perceptions, his next full-length album, titled “Soul Survivor.”
He says, “I’m so proud of how the project turned out. My production team provided the soundtrack to my forty-plus years in this business and the words just flowed. My influences are well-represented on this album of thirteen songs.” Tomi is producing the music for the upcoming film “Iconosis,” written by Nate Williams and his younger brother Frost. The film chronicles the rise of a successful, fictional, funk band in the ’70s and ’80s.
A project to which Tomi is well suited. “You don’t have to be a funk musician to relate, but I can tell you from first-hand experience, the script is true to life,” he says.
He’s also written and published four novels, Crime, Love, and Honor, Hope Park, Finding Kari, and Dolly Moon.
As a successful veteran producer, vocalist, songwriter, performer, and author, Tomi continues to expand the range of his prodigious talents, and his future looks to be as bright as it’s ever been…