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Hillbilly Hippie Music Review
APPY Awards 2021
Master Musician 2021
APPY Awards 2022
KOGA: Robert G Alley Award 2022
Fountain Square Clock Adjusted for Fall Time
Each year, the board of directors of the Master Musicians Festival honors someone who has committed themselves to the advancement, production, promotion and performance of arts and music in our community. This year’s recipient is one of the most well deserved because of all that he has done to make our home a far better place.
It all started in Nashville Tennessee. As a young boy, he listened to a transistor radio and station WSM. His Mom and Grandmother were musicians and played the church organ, his Mom and Dad both sang in the choir. At the age of 12 he formed a band with his brother and his neighbors called The Happy Valley Bubble Blowers. At John Overton High School, he played tuba in the band rounding out his childhood and introduction to music of all sorts. He graduated from Tennessee Tech with a degree in Geology and, after working for others, opened his companies AmWes Resources and Fireborn Energy.
Being a lover of all things music, he began a collection of instruments that I am sure rivals that of Paul Simons. Pam, his wife laughed one day that she never knew what was coming out of the box the UPS driver just dropped off. His man cave doesn’t consist of sports memorabilia and home theaters, but of many instruments. And these instruments don’t just sit idle collecting dust, they are played!
Being able to pick up just about any instrument and play it well on his own, Tommy has also been studying harmonica under the renowned musician Carlos del Junco. Tommy is a frequent presenter, supporter and member of the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of Harmonica (SPAH). He has performed with The Lake Cumberland Jammers at many fund raisers, Christmas in July on the train in Stearns, KY, and at various City of Somerset events.
He has played over 500 gigs from Tennessee to Chicago with Kevin Dalton and with Kevin’s band The Tuesday Blooms. He also fronts The Gospel Hour at Jarfly Brewing on the first Sunday of each month with a variety of musicians. He has been on Red Barn Radio multiple times, has played at The Burl, The Twisted Cork, and has played most regional venues. He’s been on Overtones Live three times, multiple festivals, Commons Crossing, he was a 2021 Artist in Residence at Listen Locally at Bluegrass Barrel House and the 2021 recipient of the Appy Award with Kevin Dalton and The Tuesday Blooms. And just for fun and in his spare time, he maintains the old clock downtown on the square in Somerset.
Along with singing and playing, Tommy has also written music, including a song called The Door’s Always Open about his father, and Hello Peanut about his grandson Paxton.
He carries around with him a stash of harmonicas to give to all the children who come to listen and hang out with him. But don’t expect to see him too much in December because he is committed to helping the man with the long white beard and red suit that lives up north.