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Tom Ardolino, 56; drummer kept mighty beat for NRBQ

By Mark Shanahan

 |  Globe Staff  

  January 10, 2012

Longtime NRBQ drummer Tom Ardolino may have looked relaxed on stage with his mop of unruly curls and toothy grin, but his distinctive swinging style was an essential ingredient in the band’s signature sound. Joining NRBQ at 19, he went on to record and tour for 30 years, becoming a favorite of many A-list artists. “Tommy deserves an entire wing in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,’’ singer Bonnie Raitt told the Globe. “There’s Charlie Watts and there’s Tom Ardolino. That’s it.’’

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