He keeps forming bands and releasing solo records that are among my favourites. Tom was the leader of the much-loved Junkhouse in the 90s.
He then helped form an incredible musical collaboration that was originally supposed to be a one-off project to honour the great, now late, Willie P. Bennett, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (BARK) with Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden.
(Willie P. was one of Canada's best singer songwriters, a legend in folk circles and he was very much alive when the first record came out.)
Tom also released solo albums in 2001 and 2006, and a 2005 collaboration with Bob Lanois, The Shack Recordings.
He fronts another band with one of the coolest names ever Lee Harvey Osmond and indeed the band is as cool as its name. There's one LHO record out and I'm sure we'll hear more.
Tom's latest record is with his BARK buddies and the trio has attracted the most amazing collection of female country and jazz singers you'll ever hear, in a series of "duets" with the group. You can read more about Kings and Queens on my blog here.
Tom is also an incredible visual artist. He is sitting in front of one of his creations in the photo above. He is also responsible for the artwork on many of his and his bands' records.
I sent Tom an email some time ago and asked him to PRESS PLAY> . After a busy summer touring with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings he took some time to drop me a line to tell us about some of the records that influence his music.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Charlie Parker.. Any of those old records I can get my hands on..
Upstairs in my room in good old 12 inch needle scratchin' darkness..
WHAT IS THE RECORD (OKAY MAYBE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR) THAT INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC THE MOST?
Bob Dylan - Desire
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer
Willie P. Bennett - Hobo's Taunt
Willy P Bennett - Lace And Pretty Flowers
WHAT IS THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?
He then helped form an incredible musical collaboration that was originally supposed to be a one-off project to honour the great, now late, Willie P. Bennett, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (BARK) with Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden.
(Willie P. was one of Canada's best singer songwriters, a legend in folk circles and he was very much alive when the first record came out.)
Tom also released solo albums in 2001 and 2006, and a 2005 collaboration with Bob Lanois, The Shack Recordings.
He fronts another band with one of the coolest names ever Lee Harvey Osmond and indeed the band is as cool as its name. There's one LHO record out and I'm sure we'll hear more.
Tom's latest record is with his BARK buddies and the trio has attracted the most amazing collection of female country and jazz singers you'll ever hear, in a series of "duets" with the group. You can read more about Kings and Queens on my blog here.
Tom is also an incredible visual artist. He is sitting in front of one of his creations in the photo above. He is also responsible for the artwork on many of his and his bands' records.
I sent Tom an email some time ago and asked him to PRESS PLAY> . After a busy summer touring with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings he took some time to drop me a line to tell us about some of the records that influence his music.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Charlie Parker.. Any of those old records I can get my hands on..
Upstairs in my room in good old 12 inch needle scratchin' darkness..
WHAT IS THE RECORD (OKAY MAYBE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR) THAT INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC THE MOST?
Bob Dylan - Desire
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer
Willie P. Bennett - Hobo's Taunt
Willy P Bennett - Lace And Pretty Flowers
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Kicks
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE COVER TUNE (SONG AND BY WHOM)?
Solitary Man - Johnny Cash from American Recordings III also the Chris Isaak version (Original by Neil Diamond)
It's not a cover but I have to tell you a favourite of mine is Del Shannon's Runaway. It'll get you laid in a convent.
WHAT IS THE RECORD YOU COUNT AS A GUILTY PLEASURE?
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman ( I don't own a white suit but if I did .......) I just love this fuckin' song so much..
CURRENTLY, WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD TO LISTEN TO ON THE ROAD?
Roberta Flack- First Take - Stephen Fearing introduced my to it driving home after a Blackie and the Rodeo Kings show in NYC last summer.
WHICH OF YOUR RECORDS (YOUR BAND OR SOLO RECORDINGS) ARE YOUR FAVOURITES ?
Lee Harvey Osmond - A Quiet Evil
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - Kings and Queens
WHAT'S THE RECORD YOU BOUGHT THAT YOU WISH YOU DIDN'T ?
I lost my mind in a Zellers department store on Mohawk Road in Hamilton ON and bought a Scottish bagpipe album that had an AM radio hit of Amazing Grace on it. Possibly the worst three dollars I ever spent in my life. I also have French and Native blood in my veins so when I hear bagpipes I naturally want to come out shootin'...
Follow Tom and his bands on Twitter @leeharveyosmond @therodeokings
You'll find Lee Harvey Osmond on Facebook here and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings here.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE COVER TUNE (SONG AND BY WHOM)?
Solitary Man - Johnny Cash from American Recordings III also the Chris Isaak version (Original by Neil Diamond)
It's not a cover but I have to tell you a favourite of mine is Del Shannon's Runaway. It'll get you laid in a convent.
WHAT IS THE RECORD YOU COUNT AS A GUILTY PLEASURE?
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman ( I don't own a white suit but if I did .......) I just love this fuckin' song so much..
CURRENTLY, WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD TO LISTEN TO ON THE ROAD?
Roberta Flack- First Take - Stephen Fearing introduced my to it driving home after a Blackie and the Rodeo Kings show in NYC last summer.
WHICH OF YOUR RECORDS (YOUR BAND OR SOLO RECORDINGS) ARE YOUR FAVOURITES ?
Lee Harvey Osmond - A Quiet Evil
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - Kings and Queens
WHAT'S THE RECORD YOU BOUGHT THAT YOU WISH YOU DIDN'T ?
I lost my mind in a Zellers department store on Mohawk Road in Hamilton ON and bought a Scottish bagpipe album that had an AM radio hit of Amazing Grace on it. Possibly the worst three dollars I ever spent in my life. I also have French and Native blood in my veins so when I hear bagpipes I naturally want to come out shootin'...
Follow Tom and his bands on Twitter @leeharveyosmond @therodeokings
You'll find Lee Harvey Osmond on Facebook here and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings here.
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