Tom Principato has spent over half his life as a guitarist and singer based in his hometown of Washington, D.C. In the 1970's, Tom was leader of the legendary band Powerhouse, an East Coast phenomenon that released the album "Night Life" to critical acclaim.
Tom has also done brief stints with various acts including Billy Price And The Keystone Rhythm Band, Big Mama Thornton, Sunnyland Slim, James Montgomery, and a group called The Assassins with Jimmy Thackery, former guitarist with The Nighthawks. Tom appears on two albums with the Assassins, "No Previous Record" (1986) and "Partners In Crime" (1987) which won a "Wammy Award".
In 1984 Tom began a solo career, notably recording a live album with
the late Washington guitar legend Danny Gatton titled "Blazing Telecasters".
This album was considered by The National Academy Of Recorded Arts And
Sciences (NARAS) for a Grammy Nomination.
In addition to winning first place in the WHFS/Harmony Hut "Guitar Talent Hunt", Tom has won a total of 22 "WAMMY" Awards from the Washington Area Music Association. His album "Smokin'!" won three Wammy Awards: Best Blues Album, Best Male Vocalist-Blues, and Best Blues Instrumentalist. Tom won four Wammy Awards; Best Artist/Group-Blues, Best Male Vocalist-Blues, Best Instrumentalist-Blues, and Best Recording-Blues for The Assassins "Partners In Crime" album. The following year, Tom won three more Wammies: Best Blues Recording-"I Know What You're Thinkin'...", Best Artist/Group-Blues, and Best Instrumentalist-Blues. Tom also won Best Instrumentalist-Blues in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2001, plus Best Male Vocalist-Blues in 1997.
In 1999 "Live & Kickin'" won Best Blues Recording, and Tom Principato Band won Best Blues Group. In 2003 "House On Fire" won Best Blues Recording. In 2006 "Guitar Gumbo" won best Blues Recording and Tom won Best Blues Vocalist. Tom Principato Band was also voted "Blues Act Of The Year"-1997 and "Blues Act Of The Month" for Oct. 1997 by the listeners of "Talkin' Blues Radio" Koln, Germany and Gitarre & Bass Magazine.
Since the 1990's Tom has signed endorsement agreements with Fender Electric Guitar Co., DR String Co., Seymour Duncan pickups, and Roger Mayer effects pedals. (Roger Mayer personally made effects pedals and experimental electronic gadgets for Jimi Hendrix). Tom's 1992 Recording "Tip Of The Iceberg" was co-produced by Chuck Leavell, a keyboard player who has played with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers Band, and Sea Level. Chuck also appears on Tom's "Really Blue" CD. In 1995 Tom's song "In The Clouds" was considered for another Grammy nomination.
In 2000, Tom's book "Open-String Guitar Chords" was published worldwide by Hal Leonard Corporation.
Tom Principato continues to be one of the most unique guitarists around, combining his rich blues background with high-energy rock, and a highly charged, emotionally expressive delivery. Here’s what the press has been saying…
Don’t be surprised if "Raising the Roof!" also raises the number of Wammie Awards that blues guitarist Tom Principato has collected over the years.
Recorded in College Park save for one track, Principato's new album is a rocking, grooving session featuring Hammond B-3 organist Tommy Lepson. It opens with three tunes written (or co-written) by Principato: "Lock and Key," a serving of gumbo funk peppered with chunky, extended chord guitar riffs and Chris Watling's resonating baritone sax; "Too Damn Funky," a slithery instrumental that lives up to its billing as soon as Lepson applies some elbow grease; and "In the Middle of the Night," a haunting reggae ballad that features Principato and co-composer Lepson sharing soulful vocals.
Eventually a few cover tunes that further reflect Principato's varied tastes come into focus: J.J. Cale's "Lies," Jimmy Smith's "8 Counts for Rita" and the Louis Jordan hit "Fish Fry." Each is given a fresh spin, though the twangy tribute to Smith is particularly colorful and engaging, an expansive showcase not only for Telecaster master Principato but for Lepson, bassist John Perry and drummer Joe Wells.
Capping the album is a live recording of Principato's loose and lighthearted "They Called for 'Stormy Monday' (But 'Mustang Sally' Is Just as Bad)," complete with lots of T-Bone Walker-evoking fretwork.
— Mike Joyce, The Washington Post 2008
Recorded long before Hurricane Katrina tore up half the Gulf Coast, "Guitar Gumbo" is Tom Principato's love song to Louisiana, a multi-track celebration of its culture, mystique and allure.
As always, Principato's Fender-charged fretwork generates lots of Stratocaster sparks and Telecaster twang, along with some fiendishly syncopated runs on Professor Longhair's "hey Now Baby" and other tracks. The self-penned instrumental "Return of the Voodoo King" quickly stands out on the album, as does "Louisiana (Been Callin' Me)," which features Tommy Lepson on Hammond organ and the Nighthawks' Mark Wenner on harmonica. Other guests occasionally join Principato, bassist John Perry and drummer Joe Wells, including a few local horn players and pianist Kevin McKendree, best known for his work with soul man Delbert McClinton. As the album's title suggests, though, not all the tunes evoke Louisiana. "Tango'd Up in the Blues," one of Principato's most sensuous and atmospheric compositions, points even farther south, and David Kitchen's "If Love Is Blind" introduces a roots-rock, boogie-powered diversion. Not to be overlooked is "Tipsy," the album's coda, which reverberates with Chuck Berry-flavored bends and double stops.
— Mike Joyce, The Washington Post 2005
On 16 tracks taped in concert or studio settings between 1975 and 2000, Principato sings and bends guitar strings with a casual sort of intensity. Covering the breadth of ensemble blues styles, he's smarter and more entertaining and honor-bound than the general lot of blues-oriented guitarists active today. An improvisatory way of thinking improves his playing. Among the album highlights are the fireworks-display instrumental "In Orbit" and the remake of old jump blues "Nosey Joe," with its original singer Bullmoose Jackson.
— Downbeat Magazine 2005 Rated Four Stars
Although Not One Word is not for guitarists only, the 10 instrumentals that make up up Tom Principato’s new album are certainly a picker’s delight… Principato covers a lot of ground here, from trusty blues shuffles to exotic international excursions.
— Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
Tom Principato Band will be performing live at Windsor Hall at Town Center in Cumberland on July 19th. The concert begins at 8:00pm; doors open at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15. Table seating for parties of 4 or 8, and individual tickets can be reserved by visiting Kauffman Music located at 45 Baltimore Street in downtown Cumberland or by calling (301) 724-6800. You can also purchase tickets at our new location at Main Street Books, 2 E Main St, Frostburg, MD. This event is a production of Queen City Performing Arts Development, Inc. – QCPAD
You can listen to Tom’s music at: http://www.myspace.com/tomprincipato2
Or visit Tom’s website at: http://www.tomprincipato.com/index.html
And here’s Tom featured in a recent Vintage Guitar magazine: http://www.tomprincipato.com/vintageguitar.html
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