Tom Scholz, born Donald Thomas Scholz on March 10, 1947, in Toledo, Ohio, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, engineer, and inventor. He is best known as the founder and main creative force behind the rock band Boston. Scholz, a multi-instrumentalist, plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums, and has been a key figure in every Boston release.

Raised in Ottawa Hills, Ohio, Scholz was a top student and a member of the varsity basketball team in high school. He pursued higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in mechanical engineering. Before venturing into music full-time, Scholz worked as a senior product design engineer at Polaroid Corporation.

Scholz's musical journey began with recording demos in his home studio while working at Polaroid. Despite facing initial rejections, his demos eventually caught the attention of Epic Records, leading to a recording contract. Boston's debut album, released in 1976, was mostly recorded in Scholz's basement studio using devices he invented. The album became a massive success, going 17 times platinum and placing four songs in the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100.

Beyond his work with Boston, Scholz founded Scholz Research & Development, Inc., where he developed and marketed musical equipment under the Rockman brand, holding several patents. Known for his preference to stay out of the limelight, Scholz has been described as an "un-rock n' roll" figure, focusing on music production and inventing new electronic equipment. In recent years, he has dedicated significant time and resources to charitable endeavors.