TOMPRINCIPATO
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 "BlazingTelecasters". 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) and two DVD's: "Blazing Telecasters" from a show recorded for Maryland Public Television in 1984 with Danny Gatton, and "Anniversary DVD", a career retrospective.
The band has toured clubs and festivals extensively in the U.S., Canada,and Europe including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Slovenia, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, Sardegna, Corsica, Spain, Portugal, Majorca, Menorca, St.Croix, and even Greece and Turkey!
In addition to winning first place in the WHFS/Harmony Hut "Guitar Talent Hunt" (1980) Tom has won a total of 23 "WAMMY" Awards from the Washington Area Music Association. In 1986,"Smokin'!" won three Wammy Awards; Best Blues Album,Best Male Vocalist-Blues, and Best Blues Instrumentalist. In 1987 Tom won four Wammy Awards; Best Artist/Group-Blues, Best MaleVocalist-Blues, Best Instrumentalist-Blues, and Best Recording-Blues for The Assassins "Partners In Crime" album. In 1988 Tom won three more Wammies; Best Blues Recording-"I Know What You're Thinkin'...", BestArtist/Group-Blues, and Best Instrumentalist-Blues. Tom also won Best Instrumentalist-Blues in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2005, 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 Tom won Best Male vocalist-Blues & “Guitar Gumbo” won Best Blues Recording.
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 FenderElectric Guitar Co., GHS 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-producedby 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 2000 Tom's book "Open-String Guitar Chords" was published world-wide by Hal Leonard Corporation, and the expanded edition was published in 2008 by Powerhouse Records
In addition to being a Master craftsman on the Guitar, Tom is a prolific composer, having composed over 50 songs which have been published through BMI by French Lady Music
HOUSE ON FIRE PRESS QUOTES
....Suffice to say that there's no shortage of incendiary fretwork here. Some of the tracks are laced with southern funk touches: "'Til I Get What I Came Here For", "Apricot Brandy", and the Crescent City flavored "Voodoo Thing", and when the focus shifts to a shuffling honky-tonk arrangement of Wille Dixon's "Crazy Mixed Up World", a cameo by keyboardist Kevin McKendree, from Delbert McClinton's band, plays out nicely. The disc ends with a cover of "Done Your Daddy Dirty" a blazing Telecaster tribute to it's author, the late Roy Buchanan. House on fire, indeed.
Mike Joyce The Washington Post
Tone, style and a great sense of groove are what fill guitarist Tom Principato's CD "House On Fire". This is a tough guitar album with some cool Hammond B-3 underlining it's musical current. Lots of guitar edge alongside Principato's low-down vocals kicks the opener, "'Til I Get What I Came Here For", into overdrive. This is a cleanly (self-) produced record. The organ is mixed right up front with the perfect frequency of his Tele alongside of the drums and bass guitar. Principato is a cat that has chops provided by the play-every-night-of-the-week club. Guy Lee Goldmine Magazine
This one sizzles with the intensity of someone who couldn't wait to get in the studio and just burn. Check out the big, fat chunky Fender chords and the honking, squawking, and bending of the solo in the opener "'Til I Get What I Came Here For". You know he means business right off the bat. A song usually associated with Roy Buchanan gets a nice workout here too. "Done Your Daddy Dirty" is served up as an instrumental, with nasty string bends and chords all mixed together. Tom even reworks the very funky "Apricot Brandy" with nice chickin' pickin' and big-time soloing. All in all, this is a fine record with fine guitar playing. John Heidt Vintage Guitar Magazine
Press Quotes--past releases
"Principato plays with pristine beauty and riveting emotional power; he's quite remarkable, and his meaty blend of blues, R&B, and rock will restore your soul." Dave Richards-Erie, Pa. Times
..."Excellent! He has an enormous talent at telling stories in his solos, he doesn't play only 'standard' licks." Guitarist Pat Metheny in an interview with "Guitarist" Magazine (Paris, France) upon hearing "In The Clouds".
"At his best, Tom Principato is a terror, a master of touch and tone, equal parts craftsman and creator. Principato is at his best throughout most of Really Blue, a versatile effort that showcases the guitarist's facility for blues, jazz, rock and more....there are more fresh, original ideas on Really Blue than one is likely to hear in an entire stack of new releases by most contemporary artists. Play on Mr. Principato!" Bryan Powell Blues Access Mag.
"After over 20 records, either solo or band projects, Tom Principato remains one of America's most gifted guitarists and a member of my top ten of all time. Be careful, or he could easily topple one of your current guitar heroes from their lofty pedestal." Beardo (Ted Dames) Blueswax E-zine
"Upon an initial listen, D.C.-based guitarist and vocalist Tom Principato seems to fit nicely into the powerbooster blues-rock niche of fellow fingermen like onetime-bandmate Jimmy Thackery or Tinsley Ellis. But a closer inspection reveals a subtle melodicism, a half-heard fill note or understated trill that marks a craftsman. Principato's instrumental work remains mesmerizing, his control and taste meld effortlessly." Greg Land Atlanta Creative Loafing
"Tom Principato invests "Tip Of The Iceberg" with a tremendous swell of enthusiasm that marks his fifth effort as one of the high spots of blues-based guitar rock this decade or last. ...his solos are models of emotional clarity and purposeful facility even as they skyrocket into dizzying realms." Frank John Hadley Down Beat Magazine June, 1993
"He works harder for the music he loves than anyone I know...and if you've never heard him, Tom Principato is a more amazing guitar player than you can imagine." Bob Margolin Blues Review Magazine
"Let me tell you what I felt. Exhiliration! Exuberation! I sat wide eyed and slack jawed as Tom enchanted me with his talent and his fine, fine playing. What impressed me most about Tom's performance was the level of emotion his guitar playing and singing were infused with. "Virtuoso" is a word too easily applied to the undeserving theses days, but it's a word that fits this guitar master perfectly. I'm willing to say that Tom Principato is destined to achieve legend status." Layla Ferrante The Musicians Exchange
"It's a pleasure to hear a guitarist with such formidable ability play with true grace and style; using his most stinging licks sparingly and with maximum effect."Dave Clingan Blues Notes Portland, Oregon
"In The Clouds" contains large helpings of Principato's patented rocking blues numbers, but there is much more, just as there is to the guitarists talents. More than half the selections are instrumental, and all are more than a little impressive...New fans may well be amazed at the depth and diversity of Principato's guitar mastery." Michael Point Austin American Statesman
"His instrumental voice is original, as he juxtaposes exciting chording with sharp, sometimes gleefully wild and winding single note runs that always offer surprises. And, unlike most blues players, he can play a lyric line." Michael Drexler-The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio
"He's an excellent note bender and a concise, gritty player with an experienced ear for building to multiple climaxes in his solos."
Dave Hiltbrand People Magazine
"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." Frank John Hadley (4 stars) Down Beat Magazine May 2005
"With Blue Lights he pushes all the right buttons before digging in with some seriously gritty and impassioned playing. He gets such a beautiful distillation of the blues essence you're left wondering, "Haven't I heard that before?" The answer is "no" because this is not a copy of anything else, and "yes" if you've ever traveled to the heart of the collective blues unconscious." Cary Wolfson Blues Access
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