Tama Girard

BY BETSY SHEA-TAYLOR
FOR POINT MAGAZINE

Tama Girard can recall his mother watching him in the car’s rear-view
mirror, when he was just four and strapped into his car seat, as he mouthed words
to songs on the radio with complete conviction.
“I didn’t know what role I would play in music,” Girard said in a recent
interview, “but I knew someday I would be able to convey my sentiments through
music... and my mother understood the same.”
Name not familiar to you? Maybe one reason is that Tama Girard is reluctant to
come across as boastful and it‘s tough to get him to blow his own horn, literally!
But maybe you’re familiar with his work.
He‘s one of those behind-the-scenes bright minds more recognizable for his
music than his mug.
It‘s almost certain that some people wonder “who is that guy and why do I
constantly see him with celebrities? And what role does he play with them?”
As it turns out, a substantial role.
Girard, 34, a Rhode Island native and East Providence resident, is now doing
just what he, as a child, forecast he would do -- conveying his sentiments
in his capacity as composer for major productions including “Hard Luck” the
feature soundtrack for the movie of the same name, filmed in Providence and
starring Wesley Snipes.
He has written a song, Block Island, for the new Disney film “Underdog,” --
the revival of a television series of four decades ago starring a gentle
beagle who becomes a superdog.
He is co-star of a pilot to be filmed in April for an HBO prospect “Inside
Providence” with co-stars Joe Cambra and Jason Dipietro, and is busy promoting
his new album and video (Hold On) for the film “Thunder Doyle” That’s being directed
by Eugene Celico and is now in current rotation on MTV & VH1. It will feature Sopranos cast members Vincent Pastore and
Anthony Ribustello and, also, Vinny Pazienza, five-time world champion boxer
from Cranston and a friend of Girard’s.
He has also had significant roles in some of LA's band albums under the
industry alias "Allan Smithee” -- a pseudonym used by numerous writers,
directors, composers, and musical artist when there are stipulations that prohibit a
person from being named or used on a project. He’s also known as simply “T” on some cameo studio production appearances.


That’s just a taste of what he‘s up to.
Girard has also produced four albums on his own and in collaboration
with musicians who have toured with artists including Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys,
Nuno Bettencourt, Vicious Game, MTV‘s Touch and The Fools.
Girard’s path to the inner circle has been marked by creativity, confidence,
a loving family and serendipitous connections.
He was born in Newport Rhode Island, to Maria J. Matteo-Hornig and Richard P. Girard, the
youngest of five siblings.
The composer, who is single, is a graduate of East Providence High School
and attended the Mueller College of San Diego and, briefly, the Juilliard
School, the performing arts conservatory in New York City.
But some of his most valuable educational experiences were attained right
here in Rhode Island, growing up.
His mom, the mother who always believed in her son’s talent, scrimped and
saved to buy him his first instrument when he was a child.
“Lo and behold... at the age of 6, my mother surprised me on Christmas
morning with a brand new acoustic guitar,” Girard said. “I was fascinated that I
owned a piece of musical equipment that would enable me to make beautiful or
sad music just like everyone I'd heard or seen on TV. I was completely
thrilled... “
He was completely thrilled … until he tried playing.
“Well, I locked myself in my room and made noise, just noise. I was really
frustrated that I couldn’t on command make the beautiful music come out of my
fingertips that I was hearing in my head,” he said. “It's like being
surrounded by people who speak English and in your head, your thinking is in
English, but when you open your mouth all that comes out is Greek.”
So he did the unthinkable.
“Well that same day that she bought me that guitar I also broke my mother’s
heart. I smashed the guitar against the wall. Something my mother worked for
so hard to give me something extra that was bigger than the everyday
staples. The frustration I felt was overwhelming to me even at such a young age.”
His mother remained calm.
“She said very casually ‘Someday when you’re working with stars and celebs
you’re going to pay me back $29.99 for the guitar you just broke.’”
His “career“ seemed to end there.
But of course, it was just beginning.

Soon after the smashed-guitar incident, something miraculous happened.
“You see, we lived very close to my neighborhood elementary school,” said
Girard. “Even when I was home sick in bed I could hear the other kids playing
at recess time right from my bedroom window.
“Well, one day after school playing in my yard I noticed a big truc