TA-Bio

From an early age – when he was five, actually – Thomas Austin knew that he was destined to be on stage – performing. He caught the bug while growing up and watching his father’s band rehearse. A year after that realization, his dad brought him on stage to sing and from there, there was no turning back.

At fifteen, he began to perform professionally on stage, and performed with his dad in the Temptations tribute group, Second Wind. This led to a twelve-city tour of Japan and more importantly, he developed a friendship and gained a mentor in singer and dancer, William Hall, with whom he studied. Says Austin, “He’s the best Michael Jackson impersonator there is. He took me under his wing and taught me all he knew.”

Austin, who briefly lived in Las Vegas in 1989, has been with Second Wind for more than 10 years. In all the years that he was performing, he was also juggling school and maintaining a 3.5 GPA as stipulated by his dad. When he graduated from junior college, he went back to his first love – performing - and joined his dad’s show, ShowStoppers, Live! in Arizona, up until he moved back to Las Vegas in 2009. He also studied and performed with the group The Electric Boogaloos.

Playing “Jerome Benton” in Purple Reign might seem like worlds away from Michael Jackson or being one of the Temptations, as Austin describes his role, “He’s more sidekick to Morris Day; kinda like a hype man;” although he also admits, “He’s a clown, silly and outgoing and so I have the same kind of personality.”

In his spare time, Austin also dabbles in produces shows and music, adding, “I would also love to sing.” His ultimate dream, however, would be to be like his mentor and emulate “The King of Pop,” he says, “If I could, if I had the look, I would impersonate Michael Jackson – but I don’t have the look, so I just have to go for my talent,” adding, “I had to keep my foot in the door. If I can’t do Michael, I’ll do what it takes.”

Thomas Austin

"Jerome Benton"