Tom Rapp

Psychedelic Folk Singer-Songwriter

US singer and songwriter most famous for fronting Pearls Before Swine he also released four albums under his own name. (His first credited solo album was in fact a collection of demo recordings released by the record company without his knowledge.) His songs included "Rocket Man", which inspired Bernie Taupin and Elton John's song of the same name. After a final show as a supporting act to Patti Smith, he retired from music in 1976. Rapp then worked as a theater receptionist and projectionist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and New York, before entering higher education. He graduated in economics from Brandeis University in 1981, and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, graduating in 1984 and becoming a civil rights lawyer. Born March 8th, 1947 in Bottineau, N.D., USA. Died of cancer on February 12th, 2018, at home in Melbourne, Florida (USA), at the age of 70.