Who Is CBO? :: CBO Band Bios

Thomas Patrick Garven (1954-2004): Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Arranger, Good Vibes

A.K.A. “Garvesaurus 2000”, Tom was born an Irish/German/Aquarian, before color TV was invented.

Since he was 5 years old, he traveled (when his mom would let him) with his dad (the band leader) and his uncle (the promoter) to County and State Fair Grandstand Shows. During some these events he was babysat by the Andrew Sisters and went on Fair rides with Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Keith Relf, of The Yardbirds (later to become Led Zeppelin). Tom had a 55-year-old circus midget for a mentor, and witnessed the most amazing variety of entertainers in the world. Most of those acts were from The Ed Sullivan Show. Tom was determined to be an entertainer of that level, but wasn’t quite sure what would be his “Thing”.

One of his early vocal influences was, and is Mel Blanc (the voice of Warner Bros. cartoons). He wanted to follow in Mel’s footsteps until he saw John Lennon and The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was hooked! It was a singer/musician he was to be, and a life of donating blood plasma and eating Ramen noodles ensued!

In Tom’s teen years, he cut his teeth in the music business by loading the equipment of bands like, The James Gang, Alice Cooper, Sha Na Na, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, The New York Dolls, Curtis Mayfield, Ted Nugent and Bob Seger.

Since becoming a performer he has shared the stage with, Bad Finger, Pat Benatar, Chuck Berry, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Buckinghams, Brownsville Station, The Coasters, The Commodores, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Hermans’ Hermits, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Kingsmen, The Trashmen, The Imperials, Loverboy, The Mamas and the Papas, Peter Noone, Gary Puckett and the union Gap, Rare Earth, The Rascals, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Johnny Rivers, Tommy Roe, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Temptations, Three Dog Night and Jr Walker and the All Stars.

Tom’s biggest regret, is not having invented the “Dickie”. However, he did invent the “Pocket Peeper”. So he’s got that going for him...which is nice.

Tom was diagnosed with cancer later summer, 2003. All of his friends and family came together October 12th of that year, to raise money for his care and to show their support. It was an all star cast and one of those once in a life time experiences. Not just for Tom, but for everyone who performed as well as attended. He was overwhelmed by the turn out, and that encouragement gave him the strength, faith and hope necessary for his journey. Despite his valiant effort he lost his fight a year later. Tom remains every bit a member of the band. We miss seeing and hearing him, but we carry him in our hearts.