Tom Caufield grew up in suburban Michigan, listening to the exhilarating eclectic broadcasts of the golden age of AM Radio. He took naturally to guitar and piano, and after playing in a number of high school dance bands, met Chris Arduser (Adrien Belew, Psychodots), and together they formed The All Small Band, which brought Tom greater recognition. This momentum was interrupted when Tom’s family made the decision to move to North Carolina; Tom initially stayed behind, but eventually joined them in Winston-Salem, where he became immersed in the classic singer-songwriters of the 70’s, especially Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell. Tom & Chris were eventually asked to join Ohio’s fabled Raisin Band, and this group toured the South and Midwest for two years. After leaving the band, Tom lived in New York City for a year, but failing to make a musical connection, he returned to Ohio to attend college. Back home, he developed his basic signature sound, a mix of the jangly, uplifting hooky pop of the ‘60’s overlaid with the lyrical depth and introspection of the 70’s singer-songwriter movement. In 1986, he submitted a recording of his song ‘Long After Summer’ to the campus radio station, who were soliciting entries into the CMJ Top Ten Unsigned Artists contest. Tom’s song was chosen as one of the Top 10, and was released later that year on an Epic Records compilation. Soon after, his college band recorded some demos, which found their way to Marty Scott of Passport Records, who signed Tom to a deal. “Long Distance Calling,” Tom’s debut album, recorded at the Sunset Sound Factory in Los Angeles, and produced by Howard Benson (Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson), was released in November, 1987. The albums lead-off single ‘Precious Town,’ did well in many mid-size radio markets, but ultimately did not break through to the mainstream. Since then, many of Tom’s songs have appeared in television programs such as ‘Friday Night Lights,’ ‘The Black Donnelly’s,' ‘Felicity,’ and others. He also began life as an independent artist after the end of his deal with Passport, and after trying Nashville, then finally relocating permanently to Los Angeles, has self -released a number of CDs, most of them solo, but also three discs, under the name ‘Caufield,’ which feature Tom’s songs sang in duet with female vocalists. Currently (as of 2010) he has been performing regularly with his band, Tom Caufield & The Calling, who plan to record and release their debut album early in 2011.
His latest disc, "More Fire For The Firedome" (2010), the follow up to his favorably reviewed 2009 release, "The Times Are Never So Bad," contains elements of that previous release (especially in the introspective lyrics and acoustic/electric folk-pop sound), but adds some reggae beats and cultural commentary, most successfully on the title track. Tom also revisits his first love, the sunshine pop of his youth on two tracks, the uplifting opener "Effortless," and the could-be-a-lost-Lovin'-Spoonful-tune "You've Got My Number." The 3 reggae and 2 sunshine pop songs give the album a light, appealing touch, and balance out the more serious subject matter of socially observant tracks such as 'Test Of Time,' 'More Fire For The Firedome,' and 'Change Will Come From the Streets.' Also included are two heartfelt ballads that share the sensibility of the previous album. 'Out Of Reach,' and 'Work In Progress' are passionate expressions of both the wonder and difficulty of long term relationships. "More Fire For The Firedome" is yet another solid entry in the impressive body of work that singer-songwriter Tom Caufield is steadily building. Enrich your inner life by checking out MORE FIRE FOR THE FIREDOME.
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