“The night began at a bar on July 3rd in Daytona Beach. But when Tommi Rose found his calling, the clock had moved past midnight to signal the 4th of July in 1976. While there were not literally fireworks going off that first time Rose (aka Thomas Bank) hit the stage in drag, there was a rush just like watching red, white, and blue explode against a dark sky in celebration.
“It’s an adrenaline rush,” Rose says. “I’m an adrenaline junkie for the most part. I love the feel of it. And I love singing songs that can make people really laugh. And I also like being able to turn around and sit on a bar stool, and do a ballad that actually pulls heartstrings. And have them come up to me afterwards, ‘Oh my God, that song was so beautiful.’ Because anytime I do a ballad, I always have a story or connection to it.”
Take off the makeup, the dazzling costumes, and dim the spotlight, and Tommi admits he’s a completely different person…”
