Tom Principato

Overview

Tom Principato has spent the last 40+ years 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 who released an album "Night Life" to critical acclaim. Tom also did a one year stint with Geoff Muldaur and recorded an album "I Ain't Drunk"(Hannibal/Island Records 1980) with the band Geoff Muldaur and His Bad Feet members of which included Andy Stein (Asleep At The Wheel), and Mark Kazanoff (Earl King). Tom has also done brief stints with various acts including Billy Price And The Keystone Rhythm Band, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Adams, 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). In 1984 Tom began a solo career, notably recording a live album with the late Washington guitar legend Danny Gatton titled "Blazing Telecasters". Since 1984 Tom has recorded eleven solo albums as well as two collaborations: "Smokin'!" (1986),"I Know What You're Thinkin'..." (1988), "Live In Europe 1988" (2001), "In Orbit" (1989),"Blazing Telecasters" (1990), and "Oh No!More Blazing Telecasters" (2005), "Tip Of The Iceberg" (1993), "In The Clouds" (1995),"Really Blue" (1997), "Live & Kickin'"(1999), "Not One Word" (2000), "Fingers On Fire" with Pete Kennedy (2002), "House On Fire"(2003), "Guitar Gumbo" (2005), “Raising The Roof!” (2008) "A Part Of Me" (2011) and two DVD's: "Blazing Telecasters"from a show recorded for Maryland Public Television in 1984 withDanny Gatton, and "Anniversary DVD", a career retrospective. Tom & the band has toured clubs and festivals extensively in the U.S., Canada, South America and Europe including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium,Holland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Slovenia, Finland, Luxembourg,Italy, Sardegna, Corsica, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Argentina, Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, St.Croix, and even Greece and Turkey! Since the 1990's Tom has signed endorsement agreements with Fender Electric Guitar Co., Curt Mangan 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" and "A Part Of Me" CD's. In 2000 Tom's book "Open-String Guitar Chords" was published world-wide by Hal Leonard Corporation, and an expanded edition released by Powerhouse Records in 2007. In addition to being a Master craftsman on the Guitar, Tom is a prolific composer, having composed over 60 songs which have been published through BMI by French Lady Music.