After several years of nightclub work, accompanied by pianist Norm Amadio, Tommy started singing radio and television commercials where he was discovered by Phil Ramone, world-renowned sound engineer – record producer and Patrick Williams – composer of many hit movie scores.
Ambrose was also commissioned by Canadian media icon Moses Znaimer to write a theme song for his fledgling TV station Citytv.
Ambrose, Znaimer, former Toronto mayor David Crombie and others later appeared in a documentary about the song, produced by Ed Conroy's Retrontario operation.
Blaik Kirby in the Toronto Globe and Mail wrote of Ambrose's singing: "His lean-sounding voice is invariably in tune, his notes beautifully sustained and focused.
Tommy was the proprietor of Jingles, a downtown Toronto bar that he appeared at regularly with the nine piece band led by Riley and on occasion presented many different jazz groups.