Tom "Cossie" Surman BIO
Tom “Cossie” Surman attended Jesuit Seminary at Epiphany in Pittsburgh, PA then Munhall High School. Tom was an avid record collector of 45 rpm R&B and pop dance music while working at Chuck's records in Homestead PA and Fenway Records in Pittsburgh. He then attended California State Teachers College while continuing to work at Fenway Records. Fenway was the national distributor for recorded media for over one hundred record labels in the USA.
In 1969, Tom Cossie accepted a position as Regional Promotion & Marketing Manager for the northeast for RCA Records. In 1971, he became Senior VP of National Promotion, Media and Artist Relations with RCA Records, based in New York City. His artist roster included: Elvis, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Main Ingredient, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, the Guess Who, and Harry Neilson, among others). In 1975 he became VP and GM of Buddah Records in New York City. He worked with Gladys Knight, Charlie Daniels, The Tramps, Norman Connors, Phyllis Hyman, and Michael Henderson.
In 1978, Mr. Surman was Founder and co-president with Marc Kreiner, of the bi-coastal company MK Productions, signing hit recording artist Nile Rogers and Chic to Atlantic Records. They had two productions companies, and Ocean Ariola Record where they signed Ann Margaret, Yolanda, Burt Young, etc. In 1985, Tom published two national trade magazines based out of Burbank, California: The Music and Entertainment Monthly and The R&B Report with Billy Bass and Graham Armstrong. In 1991, Tom “Cossie” Surman became co-president with Nile Rodgers and started RoCo Productions along with Ear Candy Records, distributed through BMG Music Group a distribution record label based in New York City.
In 1995, Tom was founder and CEO of a Microsoft software development company, Dormont Technologies, which was based in Pittsburgh, PA. The company specialized in Access and SQL database management software called Star Tracker which serviced record labels with date base management. He also reactivated Saturn Records and two publishing companies, Street Stuff Music (BMI) and Cosmosis Music (ASCAP) with over 200 music copyrights. In 2001, Mr. Surman accepted a position as Vice President of Government Relations & Real Estate Acquisition /Development for Vantage® Healthcare Network / Vantage Holding Company, LLC.
Following yet another passion, in 2017, Tom founded Surman Gardens, an Artisanal salsa and tomato sauce company that created homemade recipes, manufactured and sold products to grocery stores and specialty retailers. Covid and the cost of fresh products suspended the operation in late 2022.
Currently, Tom is writing his autobiography in a series of books on the Record industry which covers the relationship with RCA Records from 1967 to 1975. His first book deals exclusively with behind the scenes events, travel stories and some comedy, based upon signing bands to RCA Records then working at RCA promoting and marketing stories about: Elvis, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Lou Reed, John Denver, Charlie Pride, Jose Feliciano. The book is currently titled: Memoirs in Music and Media – Book 1. The explanation of which is covered in the forward of the book is scheduled for Late Summer 2025 release. Tom “Cossie” Surman currently resides in Lehigh Acres, a suburb of Fort Myers, FL with his wife, Gloria, of 56 years.
In 1969, Tom Cossie accepted a position as Regional Promotion & Marketing Manager for the northeast for RCA Records. In 1971, he became Senior VP of National Promotion, Media and Artist Relations with RCA Records, based in New York City. His artist roster included: Elvis, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Main Ingredient, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, the Guess Who, and Harry Neilson, among others). In 1975 he became VP and GM of Buddah Records in New York City. He worked with Gladys Knight, Charlie Daniels, The Tramps, Norman Connors, Phyllis Hyman, and Michael Henderson.
In 1978, Mr. Surman was Founder and co-president with Marc Kreiner, of the bi-coastal company MK Productions, signing hit recording artist Nile Rogers and Chic to Atlantic Records. They had two productions companies, and Ocean Ariola Record where they signed Ann Margaret, Yolanda, Burt Young, etc. In 1985, Tom published two national trade magazines based out of Burbank, California: The Music and Entertainment Monthly and The R&B Report with Billy Bass and Graham Armstrong. In 1991, Tom “Cossie” Surman became co-president with Nile Rodgers and started RoCo Productions along with Ear Candy Records, distributed through BMG Music Group a distribution record label based in New York City.
In 1995, Tom was founder and CEO of a Microsoft software development company, Dormont Technologies, which was based in Pittsburgh, PA. The company specialized in Access and SQL database management software called Star Tracker which serviced record labels with date base management. He also reactivated Saturn Records and two publishing companies, Street Stuff Music (BMI) and Cosmosis Music (ASCAP) with over 200 music copyrights. In 2001, Mr. Surman accepted a position as Vice President of Government Relations & Real Estate Acquisition /Development for Vantage® Healthcare Network / Vantage Holding Company, LLC.
Following yet another passion, in 2017, Tom founded Surman Gardens, an Artisanal salsa and tomato sauce company that created homemade recipes, manufactured and sold products to grocery stores and specialty retailers. Covid and the cost of fresh products suspended the operation in late 2022.
Currently, Tom is writing his autobiography in a series of books on the Record industry which covers the relationship with RCA Records from 1967 to 1975. His first book deals exclusively with behind the scenes events, travel stories and some comedy, based upon signing bands to RCA Records then working at RCA promoting and marketing stories about: Elvis, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Lou Reed, John Denver, Charlie Pride, Jose Feliciano. The book is currently titled: Memoirs in Music and Media – Book 1. The explanation of which is covered in the forward of the book is scheduled for Late Summer 2025 release. Tom “Cossie” Surman currently resides in Lehigh Acres, a suburb of Fort Myers, FL with his wife, Gloria, of 56 years.