An Interview with Tom Hambridge
Making a Scene brings you an interview with Grammy Award winning Indie Blues Artist “Tom Hambridge”!
TOM HAMBRIDGE is a two time Grammy® Award-Winning Producer, ASCAP Award Winning Singer/Songwriter, an accomplished session/touring Drummer and Solo Artist. He is also the recipient of seven Grammy® Nominations.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Tom attended Berklee College of Music in Boston & now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Since relocating to Nashville he has had remarkable success in the music industry. Countless songs have been recorded by many legendary stars including: Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, Billy Ray Cyrus, BB King, Rascal Flatts and Johnny Winter.
As a Producer, Tom has worked with many of the best in the business. In February 2011, he received a Grammy® for Best Contemporary Blues Album for producing Buddy Guy’s album Living Proof. Tom has also received several Grammy® nominations for his roles as Producer of Johnny Winter‘s album I’m a Bluesman, Buddy Guy’s album Skin Deep and Susan Tedeschi’s debut release Just Won’t Burn. In May 2011, Tom received 3 Blues Music Awards for the album Living Proof: Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year, Album Of The Year & Song Of The Year for the title track. In 2008, Tom produced a star-studded group of musicians including Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and Robert Randolph on Buddy Guy’s CD, Skin Deep which also earned a formidable number of positive reviews as well as winning Album Of The Year in 2009 at the Blues Music Awards.
Most recently, Tom finished producing Buddy Guy’s latest double album Rhythm & Blues. Rhythm & Blues is Buddy’s biggest charting album ever, as the album debuted at Number 1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart. The album includes guest star performances by Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Gary Clark Jr. and Steven Tyler, Joe Perry & Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. George Thorogood & The Destroyers’ album 2120 South Michigan Avenue was also produced by Tom. Critics praised the CD to be Thorogood’s best album to date. 2120 debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Charts. The CD’s radio hit “Going Back” was written by Tom as well.
He has also co-produced and written songs on George Thorogood‘s two preceding albums The Hard Stuff and Ride ‘Til I Die. In addition, Tom produced Susan Tedeschi‘s Platinum-selling, Grammy® nominated debut CD, Just Won’t Burn. He also wrote her Top 10 Triple A hits “Rock Me Right” and “It Hurt So Bad”. Other Hambridge productions include albums by James Cotton, Joe Louis Walker, Quinn Sullivan, Devon Allman and many others.
As a songwriter, Tom has written songs for an eclectic group of singers and artists. In 2007, he received the ASCAP Songwriter’s Award for his song “Every Time I Hear Your Name”, recorded by Keith Anderson. In 2012, country giants Rascal Flatts recorded Tom’s song “She’s Leaving”. Legendary rockers ZZ Top recorded Tom’s songs “Over You”, “Threshold Of A Breakdown” and “I Don’t Wanna Lose Lose You” on their album La Futura. Delbert McClinton & Glen Clark’s album Blind, Crippled & Crazy features Tom’s song “Peace In The Valley”. Billy Ray Cyrus’ 2011 single “Nineteen” was written by Tom.
Country artist Gretchen Wilson’s CD features “Walk On Water” and the title track “I Got Your Country Right Here”, both written by Tom. Legendary 70’s rock singer Meat Loaf recorded Tom’s song “Bone Yard”. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s album Last Of A Dyin’ Breed features 4 of Tom’s songs. In 2012, 60’s rock legend Eric Burdon recorded “Old Habits Die Hard”; Country-rockers The Outlaws recorded “Nothin’ Main About Main Street; and Country singer Rodney Atkins recorded Tom’s song “About The South; American Idol Runner-Up Danny Gokey’s RCA Debut CD My Best Days, features “Life On Ya”. And Tom’s song “Things I Miss The Most” can be heard on the debut Van Zant CD.
The BB King/Buddy Guy collaboration, ” Stay Around a Little Longer”, which was written and produced by Tom, is a historic first-time studio duet of the two legends. The song appears on Buddy’s Grammy® winning album, Living Proof. The single was released October, 26 2010 to critical acclaim worldwide. Tom had also had songs on compilation albums world-wide. Tom’s music is virtually everywhere: songs recorded by Keith Anderson, Van Zant, Rodney Atkins and Gretchen Wilson are included on the “Now That’s Country” Compilation CDs; Tom’s solo material has been included on “The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Compilation CD”; and many of Tom’s songs have been played on television & in motion pictures, as well as included on hundreds of Karaoke CDs.
On December 28, 2015, Tom was honored the key to the city of Buffalo. Mayor Byron Brown declared December 28th as “Tom Hambridge Day” in Buffalo.
Much to his kids’ delight, Tom has recorded vocals on tracks for two smash DISNEY hits, “Cars” (2006) and “Ratatouille” (2007.) His latest Disney project entailed producing, arranging and playing drums on BB King‘s smooth and beautiful rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”. Tom also contributed music to the films “Bug” (2006), “Flying By” (2009) & “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas” (2000). Tom has also had several songs performed on popular television programs such as American Idol, The Voice, Criminal Minds, The X Factor, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, The Tonight Show and other programs on CBS, NBC, HBO and ABC-TV.
Tom is also known to take a seat behind the drum kit. He has performed & recorded with such greats as Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, Roy Buchanan, Michael McDonald, Chuck Berry & many others. And if that’s not enough, Tom has recorded & released 6 critically acclaimed solo CD’s (Still Running, Balderdash, Bang ‘n Roll, Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes Live!, Boogieman & Boom!) and actively tours with his band, Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes.
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