Tom Principato has spent the last 40+ years as a guitarist and singer based in his hometown of Washington, DC. In the 1970s, Tom was leader of the legendary band Powerhouse, an East Coast phenomenon which 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), Mark Kazanoff (Earl King) and Sarah Brown (Lou Ann Barton). 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 DC guitar legend Danny Gatton, titled Blazing Telecasters, which was released 1990, as well as a follow-up live album, Oh No! More Blazing Telecasters, in 2005.  Since he went solo, in addition to the two collaborations with Gatton, Tom has recorded 11 solos albums: Smokin'! (1986), I Know What You're Thinkin'... (1988), In Orbit (1989), Tip Of The Iceberg (1993), In The Clouds (1995), Really Blue (1997), Live & Kickin' (1999), Not One Word (2000), Live In Europe 1988 (2001), Fingers On Fire with Pete Kennedy (2002), House On Fire (2003), Guitar Gumbo (2005), 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 Tom Principato Band has toured clubs and festivals extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe including Norway, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Slovenia, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain, Portugal, Majorca, Minorca, St. Croix, and even Greece and Turkey!

Tom Principato has won numerous "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 Male Vocalist-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'...; Best Artist/Group-Blues and Best Instrumentalist-Blues. Tom also won Best Instrumentalist-Blues awards 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. 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.


 

Long-acknowledged as one of the premier guitarists in the world, Tom Principato’s latest CD, Raising the Roof,  builds on the universal acclaim for his 2005 release, Guitar Gumbo, which won awards from the Washington Area Music Association for “Best Blues Recording” and “Best Blues Vocalist.” With these new honors, Tom has now won a total of 22 “Wammies.” In addition, a song from that album, “If Love Is Blind,” written by Dave Kitchen, was named “Song of the Year.”

In addition to Tom Principato on guitar and vocals, the band features John Perry on bass and backup vocals, Joe Wells on drums and Josh Howell on congas and percussion.

On Raising the Roof, the Tom Principato Band is joined by long-time DC-area favorite Tommy Lepson, who contributes his soulful Hammond B3 organ playing and vocals, as well as several other special guests. The new album showcases nine songs (including 6 originals) that demonstrate the breadth of Tom’s musical influences ranging from blues, jazz and rock, to funk, reggae and New Orleans sounds.

The three covers include a jazzy workout of Jimmy Smith’s “8 Counts for Rita,” a cooking take on J.J. Cale’s “Lies,” and a new version of Louis Jordan’s “Fish Fry” that brings on the funk and Jamaican flavors to this R&B classic, a long-time staple of the band’s live shows.

Since the 1990's, Tom has signed endorsements with Fender Electric Guitars, GHS Strings, Seymour Duncan pickups, and Roger Mayer effects pedals. (Roger Mayer personally made effects pedals and experimental electronic gadgets for Jimi Hendrix).

Tom's 1991 album, 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 CD.

In 2000, Tom's book, Open-String Guitar Chords, was published world-wide by Hal Leonard Corporation.

In addition to being a master craftsman on the guitar, Tom is a prolific songwriter, having composed over 50 songs, which have been published through BMI by French Lady Music.