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Tom's was influenced by music at a very young age by his parents who were rockers in the 50's. While in grade school his parents took him to see many of the great rock & rollers of that era. Tom has memories of seeing such classic performers as Chuck Berry, Little Anthony, Bill Haley & The Comets, Buddy Holly, and a host of others. Rock was not the only type of music that had an early influence. When he was in Jr. in high school he played trumpet for the school band. Tom got his first electric guitar at the age of 15 and spent a year learning to play it, and by his sixteenth birtday Tom was ready for his first rock band. Back at that time the Motown sound was coming on the scene like a gangbuster. Tom hooked up with a good friend named Gordy Keeney who played the drums. Tom and Gordy thus began putting together a band. After about a year of trial and error and experimenting with numerous musicians they finally developed a finished product. The end result produced a ten piece band called The Dramistics with a brass section and three frontmen. Tom recalls his first time he every performed in front of a very large audience. The Dramistics opened up for a very popular group of that time named The Magnificent Men. This was really an expeirence for Tom as a teenager. After a few years of playing clubs, dances and frat parties Tom left the Dramistics to join the Marine Corp. While in the Marines Tom auditioned for the Corp Band as a trumpet player but did not succeed. His many years of playing guitar left him somewhat rusty on that trumpet. While doing his tour with the Marines Tom also took the time to master another instrument, the harmonica. Especially fond of the blues Tom turned out to be a very good blues master on the harp. After leaving the service the very first thing on this young man's mind was to get a band together. Tom teamed up with drummer named Jeff Rudegeair and put together a band named Redfield. After a few years of playing the club scene with Redfield Tom was ready for a change. Tom found that change, an agent from New York City discovered Tom and had him audition for a folkrock group he was promoting. Tom got the job and off to New Jersey he went. This was like a dream come true for Tom. Here was Tom playing guitar in recording studios, and New York City night clubs. The group was like another Peter Paul and Mary, but their name was Dave, Tom and Marty. They had a great sound and everyone was full of enthususiasm and hope. Unfortunately Dave and Marty were making more than music together, It seems Marty got pregnant and that was the end of the show. After this breakup Tom reluctantly returned to PA. Tom at this point needed a break from the music business, so he got a 9 to 5 job, married a real fine lady named Kate and had a son named Ryan. Finally one day he got a call from a bass player named Denny Schools. Denny informed Tom that he had a drummer named Pat Heffner and they were putting a band together.Tom anxious to play again said ok to this offer. At this time Tom was working in a warehouse and he met a young guitarist / vocalist named Scott Galbraith. Scott joined up and completed the line-up for the group named C.C. West. Musically speaking this band had great chemistry and Tom loved the music that they played. As the years went by the large amount of time Tom spent playing with C.C. West took a toll on his family life . In the best interest of his family he decided to end the music business for a while and even went as far as selling all his guitars. After 15 years or so went by Tom ran into an old friend named Denny Betz. Denny was all excited about a new technology he was using to play music called Midi, and invited him to check this out. Tom did just that and as the story goes he joined up with Denny in a group called Back2Back. Tom and Denny's vocal harmonies and guitar work are a sight for sore ears and if you ever get the chance we hope you check out this unique musical expierence we call Back2Back. Be sure to drop Tom a line in his guest book below. I'm sure he would love to hear from you. |
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