Tommy McCoy | pl

Tommy McCoy started playing guitar at the early age of 8, in 1962. Quickly learning from 3 formal lessons and then picking it up from there. "I had an electric guitar in the 4th grade and started my own band in 5th grade". My earliest influences were Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, the 3 Kings, Mike Bloomfield and every decent blues guitarist around back then.

Having played professionally over much of N.E. Ohio from 1967-1976 between Cleveland and Youngstown, Tommy moved to Florida, opened up a used record store and started a Blues band. The Backdoor Blues band turned into the Screamin' Bluejays (w/ British bassist Barry Dean, from Oblivion Express and Denny Best, drummer for Big Twist).

In 1980, Tommy met Stevie Ray Vaughan. The two became friends and spent numerous times together down in Florida. For one year,1986, Tommy went to San Francisco and recorded his first album (with Mark Hummel). He returned home and toured the S.E. with Johnny Thunder (Suzy Q, Loopty Loop).

In 1990 Tommy hooked up with John Street in St. Petersburg and joined The Telephone Kings (including 3 former members of the Gregg Allman Band). They recorded a CD "More than you'll ever know", with mostly Tommy's originals. Two years later Tommy was working on his first solo CD project and went to Austin, Texas and recorded 6 songs with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble). He had become friends with them during his friendship with Stevie Ray. This CD was released as "Love N' Money".

In 2002 Tommy recorded in legendary Kingsnake studios (Bob Greenlee) with Lucky Peterson on B3 organ. Produced by Rock Bottom, "Lay My Demons Down" was an internationally acclaimed CD and received worldwide airplay. This led to Tommy's 2 tours of the UK. His first festival over there (Blue Dragon), he was voted #1 artist, by peoples choice. "Live in the UK" resulted from these tours. Tommy's next project was a collaboration with his brothers. "I met 2 people in 2 weeks, who both knew Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. We all got together in Levon's barn studio in Woodstock, New York and recorded an array of Americana, Blues, Roots rock and 'Band' style originals, I wrote, along with Doug Thomas and my brother Gary". 'Angels Serenade' is the title of this CD and remains one of the top sellers in Tommy's catalogue.

Tommy has toured Norway with Rock Bottom and last year toured Finland with brother, Atlanta Bluesman Mark McCoy, on bass. Tommy has just released his 6th CD "Kickin' the Blues" with special guest Commander Cody.

Website: Tommy McCoy .