Tommy Loy, a longtime friend of the JCJB, died at home in Dallas on October 17, 2002 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72.

For many years Tom was a frequent guest artist at the Landing Jazz Club in San Antonio, leading the Tommy Loy All-Stars and the Landing Quintet on weekend nights whenever the JCJB was out on tour. He will be remembered for his energetic playing and singing as well as his wry wit while fronting the band.

Tom was born in 1930 in Denison, TX and lived in Sherman until 1936. As a High School senior, he held a job as an on-air radio personality for KRRV. After enrolling in Southern Methodist University in 1947, he left school to enlist in the US Air Force in 1951. After his discharge, he finished his studies at SMU, majoring in Music Education.

While in the Air Force, Tom was Assistant to the Conductor of the military bands, and recorded and produced Public Information Radio Series for them in San Marcos, TX.

Tom was prominent in the Dallas commercial music scene as a musician and recording engineer for about 35 years, during which he wrote and produced musical commercials for most of the English-speaking world. He was the engineer and mixer on several JCJB albums including the 1991 Stomp Off release Shootin' The Agate.

Tom played at the legendary Levee jazz nightclub in Dallas from 1961 to 1974, from Day One to Day Last. He also lead the Upper Dallas Jazz Band, a 6-piece "original traditional" jazz group and played with other groups around Dallas: The Dallas Christian Brass, The Razzmajazz Dixieland Band, and the Richland College Evening Jazz Ensemble.

Tom was the National Anthem trumpet soloist for the Dallas Cowboys Football Club for 22 years, from his first performance on Thanksgiving Day, 1966 until 1989 when Jerry Jones bought the team from Mr. Bright. He played the National Anthem for Super Bowl V in Miami on January 17, 1971 before 80,000 people in the Orange Bowl and an estimated 100 million on television. He was  the recipient of the BMI Music In Sports Award in 1982.