Thomas Alden Page was born in New Jersey on May 24, 1970. He began playing the piano at age eight and learned keyboards at age 12, joining his brother in a band. Following graduation from high school, he moved to New York City and worked as a dress code checking clerk at a club called ~Nell's. During this time, he studied business at N.Y.U. and also produced and recorded the song "Turning Me On," promoting his EP to DJs around the city. After one year at ~Nell's, Page had the opportunity to meet with Madonna's producer, Mark Kamins, and the president of Sire Records, Seymour Stein. The meeting was Page's ticket to fame, as it culminated in a record deal with Sire Records in the spring of 1988.