Tom Brier's 50th Birthday, live-captured performances played on my player piano

Tom Brier turns 50 years old on October 3, 2021. To celebrate, I have cleaned up and prepared several actual performances by Tom that were captured on a recording piano years ago, which I will play back live on my player piano. I have a second microphone that I can turn on between numbers to talk about them and any stories about Tom that come to mind.

[@pi_beta7306]

Happy birthday Tom, I'm grateful you're still with us!

[@YounesLayachi]

I want to comment on Tom's health, his lack of short term memory may very well be a side effect of his lifestyle changes, rather than a direct symptom of his brain trauma. While I am not a neurosurgeon, this field is still rather new and sometimes counterintuitive, and from the anecdotal evidence I heard from my own senior relatives as well as people on the internet, the sudden lack of motorskills can and will lead to a rapid degradation of mental capabilities, that is to say, Tom may very well recover his short term memory and daily life skills, which were temporarily taken away by his sedentary post-accident recovery. I hope tom can have internet access , meet new friends, and have as many old friends visit him regularly. It's a tough spot, I wish him the best, but daily activity is crucial to recover from this situation.

[@MrV902]

We can hope that one day this whole tragedy is just a bad memory for Tom.

[@franksinatra9579]

@@MrV902 It may well be with advances in medical science such as neuralink

[@devchampeaux1864]

@@franksinatra9579 neuralink is far from do able and still in developmental stages not to mention the insane price the procedure costs. The chances of neuralink being a plausible fix in tom’s lifetime are slim

[@scurly0792]

@@devchampeaux1864 Hopefully in future, when the technologies have improved and are more affordable, it could help

[@nathang.1744]

@@scurly0792 I do remember somebody saying that his parents are rather wealthy

[@chrispychiptune6573]

Timestamps: 0:13 Happy Birthday 2:00 Camelia Foxtrot 12:27 Arabian Rag 18:50 Texas Foxtrot 28:53 Prim and Proper 36:42 When You're On Your Last Go Round 40:13 "Little Fanfare" 44:36 Redneck Rag 48:10 Breadline Blues 57:03 Skunk Hollow Rag 1:01:04 Grasshopper Dance 1:05:41 The Lion Tamer 1:11:31 Y-Knot 1:15:00 Razor Blades 1:22:13 Elephant Tracks 1:25:15 Sunlight and Shadow 1:29:45 Driftwood 1:36:36 Blue Sahara 1:40:15 Blackberry Foxtrot 1:46:06 Perryville 1:50:57 Quintessance 1:57:06 Riff Raff 2:01:57 Evening Mist 2:07:15 Idaho Rag 2:13:30 Paralellograms 2:17:50 Red Roadster Rag 2:22:07 October Sunset 2:26:33 Step It Up 2:30:06 Rialto Ripples 2:35:33 Spasmodic 2:38:50 "Doodling" 2:41:05 Nadja 2:46:30 Peacherine Rag 2:52:22 Gustavo Tango 2:59:52 The Only Pal I Ever Had Came From Frisco Town 3:02:50 Balderdash! 3:07:19 Bitter Roots 3:12:53 Candelight Romanza 3:19:19 Coriander Rag 3:25:41 The Country Rose 3:30:39 Cranberry Blues 3:40:54 Cumquat 3:44:02 Dewdrop Rag 3:50:26 Diego's Rag 3:54:47 D-Lite 3:59:22 D-Lite from Generic 4:00:26 Overture from Generic Happy birthday, Tom.

[@nathang.1744]

I was getting ready to do that lmao thanks for spending the time to do that

[@HighWideandHandsome]

Thanks!

[@cameronleesimpson5742]

Amazing work

[@zazaie51]

Really Thank You! ^^

[@maryannesanders6884]

Wish you had added Monkey Motion Rag!!!

[@SwagDawg]

It pisses me off every time I think about tom, why does stuff like this happen to the world's most precious people? Why can't we have stuff like this happen to people that deserve it. Honestly every time I listen to sunlight and shadow instead of feeling happy like I used to I cry every time because it reminds me of what happened. I still love it so much that listen to it all the time but it just makes me so sad

[@tj03297]

What makes someone “deserving” of becoming a paraplegic

[@SwagDawg]

@@tj03297 purposely making someone else a paraplegic, I guess, or anything worse than that

[@tj03297]

@@SwagDawg An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.

[@SwagDawg]

@@tj03297 We can have a philosophical discussion if you want. My view fluctuates between justice and rehabilitation quite frequently, but most of the time it is focused on rehabilitation. In other words, punishment is completely, 100% not the goal of the justice system. It is to make sure that the criminal does not commit the crime again. But if you are willing to kill someone, you should be willing to get killed, morally. I'm not talking about the justice system; I'm not talking about prison. From the perspective of a single human, if you are willing to do something to someone else, you better be ready to take it as you committed it. However, I would not advocate for that kind of system because of so many factors that go into prosecution. False sentences, false accusations, and general weakpoints in the current justice system creates too large of doubt for an "eye for an eye" based trial policy. It also convinces me that capital punishment should be abolished, but that's another discussion. To go back to your original point, of course I don't think we should punish someone with the exact same thing they allegedly did. But, if satan descended down to earth and demanded that a human was to be given in to torture, you best bet that we would choose the most wretched, evil monster we could feasibly find.

[@tj03297]

@@SwagDawg I absolutely agree with you about rehabilitation taking precedent over punishment, and of course the golden rule, doing unto others... Your argument is a bit of a cop out though. Nature doesn't have an agenda, and terrible things happen everyday, to "good" and "bad" people. If we look at every little bad thing that happens to someone on a daily basis, I'm sure you could find, in most people, something they did that could, according to your perspective, make them "deserving" of it. So then what are your parameters of determining if it was justified or not? It's all relative to each person's moral compass. I'm sure there are things that you and I have done or said, that in some people's eyes, would make us a good candidate for their depraved fantasies, essentially the concept of ethical relativism. So honestly I just find your first 2 comments to be pretty tactless. To address your Satan comment, are you saying that all of the "bad" in the world is a product of Satan? And presumably all of the "good" is attributed to God? I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

[@Conwayy33]

Happy birthday you beautiful pianist - been here for years and it breaks my heart every time I think of him

[@214TwoOneFo]

Tom has been my inspiration for ALL of my piano since I was a child. He has literally spanned generations. I’ve followed his style and everything I can observe about his playing that I can because every move he does is completely awe inspiring. --from a random now-25-year-old-fan-who’s-been-a-fan-since-I-was-11. You’ve inspired my whole career , Tom. Thank you. -Michael B.

[@xtdycxtfuv9353]

He's my childhood idol too.

[@じょせふ-v2z]

We love you, tom! I hope this comments section makes you even a little bit as happy as your videos have made us

[@matthewcolosus]

Thank you Keeper1st for taking the time to prepare and video Tom's performances, shared for free for us all to enjoy on KZbin. Belated Happy Birthday to you Tom - I wish you all the very best.

[@artie360]

Happy birthday, Tom . What a great birthday present you have given to Tom but preparing his music for us to enjoy. Thank you, Ron!

[@linksjerrylikes]

Happy 50th to one of the greatest ragtime pianists I ever saw.

[@Shadowsplinter22]

I'm a few days late to the party but I'm glad I made it. Happy birthday, Sir Thomas! I first found your arrangements and improvisations when I was in Jr high school and I have to thank you so much for the years of entertainment you've provided me. You've given me such an appreciation for this amazing genre that I never thought I could have. You're truly one of the greats, my friend. I hope you're doing good, and staying happy; after all you do have possibly the brightest smile I have ever seen. Wishing you as expedient a recovery as possible, and sending all the love I can. And Ron, thank you for sharing Tom's amazing music and talents with the world, and for keeping us updated with his health. You're a wonderful man to have done this throughout the years, and I hoping you're doing well and feeling happy too. Both of you stay safe out there!

[@СветланаБеляева-д9ф]

Thank you very much, Keeper1st, for the wonderful music that you give to lovers of rag-time. I am grateful to you for the fact that you pay a lot of attention to the work of Tom Brayer and talk about his health. And I wish Tom Brayer a happy birthday and wish him health recovery! Best regards from Vladikavkaz (Russia).

[@GondolicSily]

Thank you for literally preserving such a wonderful piece of art. This is a piece of time that unfortunately will be forgotten, but enjoyed by those who could hold the memories of Toms amazing work. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart we would not have all this right now if you didn't record him endlessly.

[@jonathanrivlin6248]

Happy birthday Tom and thank you so much for sharing your joy for music with us.

[@ErgoPanic]

Happy 50th, thanks for so much joy over the years!

[@devintrudeau6351]

Happy Birthday Tom ! Over the years Ron’s documenting of your playing and compositions have gotten me through a lot especially since I found Ron’s channel 12 years ago not long after my great grandma passed . Brings back so many memories of visiting her growing up and sitting by the piano in her living room listening to her play for hours on end .

[@rachelearnshaw351]

This is beautiful, thank you so much for sharing his performances ❤

[@ハンドルネーム-r1l]

おそばせながらトムさん誕生日おめでとうございます。 トムさんの演奏が本当に好きでキャプチャーでも聞けるのが本当にありがたいです。 現状についてよく知らないままのコメントのため何か失礼なことがあったらごめんなさい。

[@testpattern-o7x]

I will try to do my best with my English so you can translate this. Tom brier got rear ended in a car accident and he became a paraplegic. Its very sad. He was with his parents for a while undergoing physical therapy, and he eventually got his own apartment. If I am not wrong this is the case going forward. He will never completely recover sadly.

[@Jesus_paid_it_all]

@@testpattern-o7x Unfortunately he does not have his own apartment. He lives with his parents, he is given inadequate medical attention and is still partially paralyzed on his right side.

[@testpattern-o7x]

@@Jesus_paid_it_all ah okay seems I was a bit wrong

[@Jesus_paid_it_all]

@@testpattern-o7x That's fine. I wish tom had a apartment of his own...

[@microwavyy819]

@@Jesus_paid_it_all There was an update video made in 2020 :) Tom has been moved to a neurological rehabilitation center and has his own apartment!

[@KoolMB]

I hope someday he will play piano again 🤞🏻

[@evifnoskcaj]

I love the "scoops", "slides", and overall fun of your compositions, Tom! ❤️

[@nkyiem]

Happy bday!! Hope youre doing fine now ♡

[@zazaie51]

Sir Tom Brier, happy birthday! I gained a lot of energy from listening to your music since I was a college student. Thank you so much! I really want to see you! And I want to buy your score book, keep it, and play it! I hope you stay healthy and safe.

[@pc4mlc451]

Seeing that empty piano... ..man... it's tough. We love you, Tom. Keep fighting,, old friend.

[@Robert-xk9no]

Tom's still playing here... We just can't see him anymore.

[@Pocket-Lent]

Happy birthday to you Mr. Tom!

[@drallsnow3]

Happy birthday to Tom is wonderful to capture hia playing on the player piano so good to hear, What a good friend you have are to him appreciate you sincere and honest updates We must all deal with life as it happens good luck prayers too

[@KeithSammut]

alright thanks for directing me to this vid. I heard the news. It's really cool that disabled folks can still live in their house these days. My brother had an MVA and he's severely disabled now, but it's a wonderful thing that he can live with us and we can take care of him. He laughs all the time hearing us joking about.

[@DeadCanuck]

Happy birthday, Tom! Hope you’re on the road to full recovery.

[@danrobfos]

Glad to share a birthday with a legend such as Tom!

[@pickle6529]

happy birthday tom

[@jacksonlasalle5526]

A wonderful presentation Ron, and thanks for your hours of mixing & matching to make it some of the best piano music on KZbin. My best wishes to Tom on his Birthday!

[@emptyhand777]

Tom and I are about the same age, he became one of my favorite KZbin Rag Time musicians when I stumbled on his videos a few years ago. I wish him happy days.

[@あっしゃ]

スーパーマリオワールドをプレイしながら育ってきた私にとって、ラグタイムは魂に刻まれた音楽です 大人になってからラグタイムというジャンルを知り、KZbinで検索してトムの動画を見つけた時は本当に衝撃でした 私の好きなゲームの曲をたくさん即興で素敵にアレンジしていて、しかも楽しそうに演奏する姿はピアノが弾けない私にとって世界で1番の憧れのピアニストです いつの日かまた楽しそうにピアノを演奏してくれる日が来ることを、日本からずっとずっと祈っています

[@erwinsmith1845]

Any updates on Tom? Wishing him a late happy 51st.

[@user-a6olopvmv9]

How heartbreaking to see this video and the one in 2019 to learn Tom has been in very bad condition…really wish Tom can get better again to continue to do what he loves to do which is piano playing and composing. Good to know you guys hopped on technologies like Yamaha disklavier which can make note taking much easier. Keep praying for Tom and his true friends like you.

[@mewhite1528]

Thank you for this posting and the recording of Tom's piano playing. Good to know of his recovery status etc. It was always such a joy to watch Tom playing the piano....I always enjoyed it when he would laugh or comment during his playing the piano.....usually during the duel piano breakouts or do they call them chopping sessions?? When you're on your last go around.....loved it!! Almost time for another birthday Mr Tom.....Happy Birthday a few months earlier. You made all of our lives so much better!!!!

[@drewtweedie7408]

Thank you Ron for cataloging Tom's performances through the years! Your friendship is beautiful.

[@DugrozReports]

agree!

[@Radical_Rainbow]

Happy Birthday, Tom. You're a talent worthy of world-wide celebration. You've brought joy to many people, and we thank you for it.

[@willb.383]

Hate that I missed out on this live. I remember first seeing Tom's videos about 12-13 years ago and loving them all. Thanks for doing this! Happy belated 50th and an early 51st!

[@Rockclubriky]

Happy birthday Tom, I found your videos in a hard part of my life, I enjoy your music during that period so Im very grateful, love your style. Happy Birthday and hope you get better.

[@Josh-hy3em]

Happy Birthday!

[@johnye4591]

Happy birthday tom, thank you for helping me through a lot of things with your music. We’re grateful to have you

[@noki5812]

a very happy belated birthday to Tom! Thanks for these videos Keeper1st

[@Almatrass]

Happy Birthday! So sad I missed the stream :'(

[@NijiMarii]

Happy belated birthday, Tom. Thank you for so many years of amazing music and performances.

[@Nwilson2727]

Happy b-day Tom!

[@TheWaffleState]

Happy Birthday Tom! You inspire me very much! Thank you. 🎵

[@patsyt7367]

Happy Birthday Tom! Best wishes to you and your family!!

[@Godsu_Jake]

Thanks to Tom I love your piano. Happy birthday Tom!

[@pennagainagain7491]

What a grand gift for all of us! Many thanks for this and for helping keep Tom on his musical track.

[@Crackrzz]

Happy Birthday, Tom!

[@Jackalolz]

Happy birthday Tom. Thank you keeper for your years of sharing Tom’s voice through video and music!

[@williamclark6466]

Happy belated birthday to Tom. Here's wishing you happy days now and always. Ron, thank you so much for keeping Tom's music playing!!!

[@spearmintlatios9047]

Happy birthday Tom. Sending good vibes to all of you :)

[@JoeCavZero]

Happy Birthday Tom

[@GHUNTACO]

Tom is a legend

[@yairruizbarbas1159]

Happy Birthday to Tom! I hope he could Have nice birthday!!!

[@CallOfDoughnuts]

Thank you for taking the hours to arrange these. Happy birthday to Tom Brier and best wishes!

[@cannedmusic2817]

Great wishes to your health, Tom Brier!

[@boykin740]

I know this is late but happy birthday Tom!

[@johndcoffee632]

Happy birthday Tom! Thanks Ron for all you do, this is wonderful.

[@n0rg]

Happy Belated Birthday from Bellevue NE. I listen to your vids everyday. I think the Breadline Blues is a gem!

[@MargoAndTheFox]

Happy Birthday Tom! Can’t wait to see you play again some day soon!

[@franksinatra9579]

Happy birthday Tom! May today be filled ragtime and wonderful memories :)

[@Fruizii]

Happy birthday Tom!

[@kakap0788]

Tom Brier, big congratulations to you! :D I hope you are doing well and recovering nicely, the internet miss you a alot like you have no idea. Much love and much respect!

[@normanbuchignani198]

Thanks for this. A lot of Tom Brier's albums were terribly recorded, and these pieces really should be properly recorded and issued on an album--if nothing else, it would be a nice tribute.

[@TheMuzykant]

Happy birthday to the great legend Tom Brier. May his recovery be a speedy one.

[@canaltemporario2325]

happy birthday Tom!!! s2s2s2s2 xoxo from Brazil

[@colinmurphy2214]

Feliz Cumpleaños y gracias por la música Tom

[@candidoj]

Happy birthday ! Love you !

[@bellermVA]

Joyeux anniversaire Tom !

[@christinewhite6835]

happy birthday ❤️

[@ignasdailidenas2262]

Happy birthday Tom. Best luck for you 🤞

[@lemau8458]

Happy Birthday Mr. Brier!

[@bamtol7780]

happy birthday Tom.

[@dontask...9932]

Happy birthday tom👍😁

[@guscox9651]

Happy birthday tom :)

[@kevinn3312]

Tom sure is a cool guy.

[@Lyrics_Everywhere]

Happy Birthday Tom! It's is great to hear all of your talent! Remember, thanks to Jesus Christ and His resurrection you'll receive your own body In a perfect shape again!

[@gorgeluis]

I'm so sad Tom Brier wasn't around when Cuphead launched, he could have made the greatest sight-read covers of the soundtrack

[@octoking8113]

That would be awesome!….let’s pray one day he’ll get the chance to do it

[@iTunes2001]

Why was there no birthday livestreaming last year? Cause I would love to hear his recordings

[@Keeper1st]

Not enough new material.

[@iTunes2001]

@@Keeper1st thanks for the reply. So, will there ever no birthday livestreamings anymore?

[@Keeper1st]

@@iTunes2001 Doubtful, but who knows? I do have a lot of hand-played performances by Tom that are not cleaned up for playback yet… Be sure to subscribe to my Twitch account also as I do short livestreams there from time to time.

[@iTunes2001]

@@Keeper1st I got it. Thank you for the information.

[@zazaie51]

Excuse me. "Quintessence", "October Sunset", "The Only Pal I Ever Had Came From Frisco Town", "Balderdash", and "D-Lite" are great songs to listen to!!! But I live in Korea, and there is no way to get Tom Brier's songs or CDs here. If you have music and music, can you share it or buy it? I want to practice and post it on KZbin, and I want to listen to it every day to heal. Tom's birthday is coming soon, so I wonder if he's doing well.

[@Keeper1st]

I wonder also, but I have not heard anything recently. Unfortunately, his music is not available to purchase either. Many of his CDs can be listened to through KZbin. kzbin.info/door/s302IUIV0OcJtUsgXQnnjA

[@Jesus_paid_it_all]

What type of piano is this? What is the playing system?

[@jollylawyer9999]

Ron, please watch abstractical music. He does all of tom brier's pieces. He just did peril in pantomime

[@Keeper1st]

It's a same they're just playbacks of sheet music renditions and not edited for proper sound (clipped notes, grace notes before the beat, etc.).

[@jollylawyer9999]

@@Keeper1st Oh I see

[@nbamitch1157]

How is he doing please help him

[@coopers62702]

1:01:05

[@Plaxer02]

Happy birthday Tom!

[@Prengle]

What a damn hand to be dealt to such a gem of a lad.

[@IlFerroviere]

Happy Birthday Tom!

[@Persun_McPersonson]

I know this is a little off-topic, but I'd like to mention for those unaware that a channel called "The Brickster" recently uploaded a video which includes one of the transcriptions of Tom's improvisation of the Super Mario World credits theme-played back using the original, uncompressed version of the honky-tonk sound that was used for the game. It's titled "Ragtime on the S-550 (Super Mario World Honky Tonk)". It's really cool for it to come full circle and use the actual piano sound from SMW, and reminds me of when someone made a chip-tune version of his Nyan Cat improvisation.

[@MandelTräd]

Happy Birthday Tom! Good whishes from Sweden!

[@sonikokaruto]

Feliz cumpleaños Tom!

[@tomlaf1882]

1.2k likes and 0 dislikes, wonderful

[@seafourty]

Still no dislikes. 1.3k likes at the time of this comment, including mine ofc

[@maximiliandelfino4017]

*Everyone liked that*

[@drs.pancholy9034]

Happy birthday Tom! You have brought us so many wonderful memories and we hope that you can continue to do so and be with us as soon as possible. ❤️

[@YounesLayachi]

Aw how did I miss this ! Happy birthday tom !!!

[@realjoakim1337]

Happy birthday, Tom!

[@evifnoskcaj]

Happy Birthday, Tom! Thank you, keeper, for your posts, videos, and updates! ❤️

[@cobalt7342]

Happy birthday tom!

[@Elmo_lina]

Feliz cumpleaños Tom eres la inspiración de muchos!