REDONDO BEACH, CA (CelebrityAccess) — Thomas (Tom) Campbell, a musician and concert industry veteran who helped to popularize the concept of the all-star benefit concert, died in August 13th. He was 84.
His passing was announced in an obituary shared by his family, who said that he died with his wife, Smoky, by his side, but a cause of death was not disclosed.
A native of Las Vegas, relocated to California where he attended UCLA and worked at multiple jobs, including ride operator at Disneyland.
After leaving Disney, he secured a gig at the Huntington Beach concert venue Golden Bear, running lights and sound a club while composing music on the side with fellow musician, Steve Gillette. Their compositions were recorded by an impressive group of of musicians that includes John Denver, Linda Ronstadt, and Ian & Sylvia, among others.
After leaving Golden Bear in 1966, he returned to Disney for a role as National Promotional Director for their music division, where he remained until 1968.
After relocating to Mexico, Campbell became an event promoter and activist for environmental causes, writing music with his first wife, Courtney and narrating documentaries such as “Look What We’ve Done to This Land,” a film about strip mining of Black Mesa and the Four Corners Power Plant in Page, Arizona.
In 1974, Tom staged his first benefit concert, raising funds for the Earth First! project to protect New Mexico wilderness, and produced a series of concerts in Sante Fe, New Mexico featuring artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Pete Seeger, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, John Denver, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Taj Mahal, among others.
After returning to California in 1976, Campbell joined the Pacific Alliance, opposing the use of nuclear power and co-producing Musicians United For Safe Energy (MUSE), a concert series “No Nukes” concerts, which sold out five straight nights in New York’s Madison Square Garden with support from artists such as Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Jesse Colin Young, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Sweet Honey in the Rock, James Taylor, Carly Simon, The Doobie Brothers, Chaka Khan, Raydio, Nicolette Larson, Poco, Ry Cooder, Peter Tosh, Paul Simon, Gil Scott-Heron, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and John Hall.
Tom launched Avocado Productions in Hermosa Beach, California in 1982 and then later created the non-profit Guacamole Fund in 1994, which is still active today.
His other concert projects included Peace Sunday, which sold out the Rose Bowl in 1982, with more than 100,000 fans turning out for speeches by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Ed Asner; and a performer lineup that included Joan Baez, surprise guest Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Bette Midler, Dan Fogelberg, Tom Petty, Gil Scott Heron, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Bonnie Raitt.
For 10 years, from 1990 to 2000, Avocado Productions and Guacamole Fund produced the Verde Valley Music Festival in Sedona, Arizona, which supported the Native American Scholarship Fund of the Verde Valley School.
Hosted by Jackson Browne, the annual event saw performances from the likes of Shawn Colvin, John Trudell & Bad Dog, Ben Harper, Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin, Bruce Cockburn, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mary Chapin Carpenter, David Lindley & Wally Ingram, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Indigo Girls, Michelle Branch, Joel Rafael Band, Indigenous, Kenny Loggins, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Ulali and Melissa Etheridge, who all performed on the school’s soccer field.
Campbell was the recipient of the Best of the West 2018 Lifetime Achievement in Community Service Award for his work with the Guacamole Fund. He also received the Arthur M. Sohcot Award in 2001 at the California Music Awards; both awards were presented by his friend and fellow activist, Jackson Browne. In 1992, Campbell and Avocado Productions were honored with a Congressional Record by the One Hundred and Second Congress for their outstanding work in Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his wife, Smoky Dagan; his son, Grady Campbell; and grandsons Cosmo and Django. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Margaret Holmes. He leaves behind former wives, Courtney Campbell and Janis Monaco Clark, her children, Calvin Turnbull and Alana McClellan; Cousin Carol Alexandra (Sam Riordan) among others.
There will be a Celebration of Life at a later time. His family provided a list of Campbell’s favorite charities for well-wishers to donate to: https://www.guacfund.org/
