(Artist Special Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines   

Tom Shipley was a folk-rock musician best known as one half of the duo Brewer & Shipley, famous for the 1970s hit “One Toke Over the Line.” He was born on April 1, 1941 in Ohio and passed away on August 24, 2025, in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 84.

Tom grew up in Ohio, where he first played trumpet in school before switching to guitar and falling in love with folk music. He went to Baldwin Wallace College and graduated in 1963 with a degree in geology. But instead of working as a geologist, he followed his passion for music, performing in coffeehouses around Ohio. It was in that music scene that he met Michael Brewer, who would become his longtime partner in music.

In the late 1960s, Tom and Michael Brewer formed Brewer & Shipley. They moved out to Los Angeles for a while but eventually returned to the Midwest, where they built their reputation. Their big break came with the album Tarkio in 1970, which included their most famous song, “One Toke Over the Line.” In the late 1960s, Tom and Michael Brewer formed Brewer & Shipley. They moved to Los Angeles for a while but eventually returned to the Midwest, where they built their reputation. Their big break came with the album Tarkio in 1970, which included their most famous song, “One Toke Over the Line.” Besides that hit, Brewer & Shipley put out several other albums through the 1970s, with songs like “Tarkio Road” and “Shake Off the Demon.” They split up in 1980 but reunited in the 1990s to record more albums and tour again.

After spending years on the road, Tom settled down in Rolla, Missouri. In 1998, he started working at the University of Missouri–Rolla (now Missouri S&T), running the school’s video production department. He stayed there until retiring in 2011. Along the way, he also worked on community projects and supported causes like Engineers Without Borders.

Tom Shipley passed away on August 24, 2025 at University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. He was 84 years old. His death was widely reported in local papers, in national outlets like The New York Times, and remembered warmly by Missouri S&T, where he worked after his music career. He will always be remembered for his role in shaping folk rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s. “One Toke Over the Line” remains a cultural touchstone, both a symbol of the counterculture and a quirky piece of pop history. Beyond music, people also remember him as a creative storyteller, a dedicated university staffer, and someone who made a lasting mark on both the stage and his community.

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