Tom’s Bio...

I started playing Guitar in 1969 in the 8^th grade at the age of 13, and by 1972 was playing in my first “Garage Band” called the “Bare Rug” in Orlando, Florida.  Florida was a great place to be in the music scene in the early 70’s and by 1973 I was in a professional band called “Jigsaw” playing the occasional club, local high schools, hotels  and dances.  The band flourished for two years playing 70’s Hard Rock as loud as we could and I still look back at those times as the best years of my life.  But College called and off to United States Military Academy at West Point I went.  Why a long haired, rockin’ lead guitarist decided to go army is a long story, but the band scene at the Military Academy wasn’t as prolific as it was on the outside.  I still managed to get a group together, play some good late 70’s rock, stay away from the disco scene and keep the local dances hopping.  After graduation all that changed. 

I met the love of my life “Karen” in 1979 while attending the Signal Officers Basic Course at Ft. Gordon GA.  We were quickly married in 1980, and she would change my life with our first child “Sarah” in 1981, and our second “Thomas III” in 1983.  The military, family, and work took priority and music took more and more of a back seat.  As the years crept by I found myself playing less and less, an occasional sing-along, a folk song get-together, a 50’s song-fest, but no band, and certainly no dances or clubs.  I actually went through a three year period without even touching the guitar at all!  But it was always in the back of my mind.  I missed it terribly.  She kept telling me that when the kids were grown and we had settled down I could play in a band again if I wanted to.  Well…. 

The kids are grown and we have settled down!  After 22 years I am back with the music scene again.  The fingers are not quite as supple as they used to be, and my sense of  the “lead” riffs are certainly cloudy, so you will hear John doing the great leads, but the voice is coming back, and I have found a great group of understanding guys that are allowing me to redevelop the skills I once had.  What is even better is…we click, not only as musicians , but as friends!  We have a group sound that gets better every time we play…come listen to a group of old farts make great music together and enjoy… I certainly am, because I’m in it "Just 4 Fun".

Tom