Born in Homestead, Florida and raised in Jackson, Mississippi,[2] Tate began his career in his early teens as a drummer and singer.

[3] He recorded for several smaller labels during the 1960s, on many of which he was backed by the Imperial Show Band led by Tim Whitsett.

[3] In 1972 he started recording for KoKo Records, distributed by Stax, and had his first and biggest chart hit with "School of Life", produced by Johnny Baylor,[5] which reached number 22 on the Billboard R&B chart.

A second album recorded at the Malaco studios, Tommy Tate, was issued on the Juana label in 1981.

[7] Tate also wrote songs recorded by Luther Ingram, Bobby Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes, Little Milton and others.