Tom Cothran

Thomas Walter Cothran (1947–1987) was an American musicologist and composer, notable for his professional collaboration and personal relationship with American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. Early life and education Tom Cothran was born in San Antonio to parents Walter M. and Betty (Nogle) Cothran. Walter was at the time a business equipment salesman. The family remained in Texas for some years, then moved to Pasadena, California, where Tom graduated from Pasadena High School in 1965. Cothran attended Northwestern University for two years, then transferred to UC Berkeley where he studied music and became interested in linguistics. Never graduating, he found employment at San Francisco radio station KKHI (then an all-classical format), rising to program director. Cothran met Bernstein at a party in 1971 and quickly found common interests with the composer/conductor. Bernstein introduced Cothran to acquaintances and friends within the former’s social and professional orbit. Multiple sources report that the two became lovers. As assistant to Bernstein Cothran assisted and advised Bernstein in small ways during the period of development of the latter’s Mass (1971) and was a