"I believe music can heal and educate people. Music can be used for social change and can help break down walls bring people together."

Tom Hambridge: The Real Power of Music

Tom Hambridge is a Four-time Grammy™- winning producer, songwriter, & drummer for his production work on three of blues legend Buddy Guy’s most critically acclaimed albums: ‘Living Proof’ (2011) , “Born to Play Guitar’ (2016), ‘The Blues is Alive and Well’ (2018), and for his work on Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s Album ‘662’ (2022). Tom has also produced 9 other Grammy nominated albums. He has won numerous Blues Music Awards and W.C. Handy Awards, eight Boston Music Awards and several ASCAP Country Music Awards. He’s the recipient of the prestigious KBA (Keeping the Blues Alive) Award in Memphis and has been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. The list of artist collaborators includes: Gary Clark Jr., Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, B.B. King, Gregg Allman, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood and Susan Tedeschi, among many others. Over 600 of Tom’s songs have been recorded (and many top charted) by such diverse artists as: Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Rascal Flatts, Eric Burdon (The Animals,) James Cotton, Foghat, Delbert McClinton, Van Zant, and Joe Bonamassa. Tom has also recorded, performed and toured with Chuck Berry, Boston, Hank Williams Jr., Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood & the Destroyers and Keb’ Mo’, among many others.

(Tom Hambridge / Photo © by Chuck Lanza)

As a prolific solo recording artist, Tom has released seven well-regarded albums including The NOLA Sessions (2018), which was inspired by the beauty and creative depth of New Orleans. Tom set out to create a biographical blues LP by leveraging the immense talents of local musicians and legends including the late, great Allen Toussaint, Clapton’s favorite slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth, and the B3 mastery of Ivan Neville, as well as rich artistic contributions drawn from New Orleans’ musical heritage. The Nola Sessions has been Top 5 in the Roots Music Report’s Blues and Contemporary Blues charts for over 28 weeks. Tom Hambridge will release his new studio album “Down The Hatch” on August 29th, 2025. This marks the second release on Quarto Valley Records following his critically acclaimed 2023 “Blu Ja Vu.” The new album demonstrates the sheer joy Tom receives from creating music. Down The Hatch offers 12 original songs that reflect the blues sounds of the past, present and future. Some of the tunes included on this release were originally written or co-written by Hambridge for others, like "Every Time I Sing The Blues," “Willie Dixon's Gone" and "Believe These Blues.” All the songs have a common thread -- whether he's in the studio creating for Christone “Kingfish’ Ingram, George Thorogood or Buddy Guy, the award-winning drummer is motoring the whole thing –- and, in this case, Tom is the songwriter, drummer, arranger and producer.

Interview by Michael Limnios   

Special Thanks: Tom Hambridge & Betsie Brown (Blind Raccoon)

How has the Blues and Rock n Roll culture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Tom: Music has taken me all around the world. I believe the real true power of Blues and Rock and Roll is whether I’m performing my music in India, China, Czechoslovakia or Spain, even if they can’t understand the words they feel the energy of the music. It’s a common language that unites all cultures and speaks to everyone.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook?

Tom: My sound is a mixture of everything. Like a gumbo. I use all my influences. I love all music so when I’m creating there are no rules.

Where does your creative drive come from?

Tom: I think I was born with it. It’s my passion, it’s in my blood. I have to do it.

“My sound is a combination of many musical styles. I mix it all together like a big gumbo. I use all my influences which includes traditional blues elements. I love all music so when I’m creating there are no rules.” (Photo: Tom Hambridge has won numerous Blues Music Awards and W.C. Handy Awards, eight Boston Music Awards and several ASCAP Country Music Awards)

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?

Tom: I’m always growing and learning. The more music I create the more I realize how much more there is to learn. I find there’s always new ways to write a song or record a song in the studio. What has stayed the same is the excitement I get when I’m creating music. You start with silence, a blank page and then like magic a song is created.

Currently you’ve one more release with Quarto Valley Records. How did that relationship come about? Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “Down The Hatch”?

Tom: I met Bruce Quarto the president and CEO of QVR a fews ago and hit it off with him immediately. My dear friend Mike Carden introduced us. Bruce's passion and love for music and musicians was inspiring. When I started recording what would turn out to be “Down The Hatch” I knew I had to get it into Bruce’s hands.

Your work is known for creatively reimagining blues tradition. How do you balance respect for the roots with experimentation?

Tom: My sound is a combination of many musical styles. I mix it all together like a big gumbo. I use all my influences which includes traditional blues elements. I love all music so when I’m creating there are no rules.

Which meetings (and collaborations) have been the most important experiences for you? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Tom: I’ve feel blessed to have been given the gift of music. I started playing the drums at 4 years old. As far as I can remember I’ve been a musician. I have been able to record, play with and hear my songs sung by all of my heroes from Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Van Morrison, BB King, ZZ Top, Gregg Allman, Carlos Santana and so many others. I never in my wildest dreams would have believed that any of this was possible but it goes to show if you work hard and dream big sometimes dreams can come true.

“I think technique is important on an instrument so you can execute a particular musical part or performance of a song but technique alone without emotion might leave a listener not fully connected to your song. I think a blend of booth is ideal but I’ve heard great artists who are not technically proficient on their instrument play and sing a song and bring an audience to tears with emotion.” (Photo: Tom Hambridge, the award-winning drummer is motoring the whole thing –- and, in this case, Tom is the songwriter, drummer, arranger and producer)

You’ve worked in many different settings, from clubs and studios to open air festivals. How do you navigate between these different worlds?

Tom: To me music transcends language and culture. I’ve been fortunate to play my songs to audiences all over the world. People can feel the power of the music even if you are singing in another language. Each musical situation is different but I love them all.

What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

Tom: Great question. I think technique is important on an instrument so you can execute a particular musical part or performance of a song but technique alone without emotion might leave a listener not fully connected to your song. I think a blend of booth is ideal but I’ve heard great artists who are not technically proficient on their instrument play and sing a song and bring an audience to tears with emotion.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

Tom: The way music is presented has changed dramatically over the last decade due to the advancement of technology and also the way consumers get or listen to music. Social media has become extremely important as a platform to promote music and live performances. Streaming services seem to be the way people listen and find out about new music so my hope is to try to get my new album on some of these playlists and platforms so folks know I’ve got a new record out.

"Never stop listening and learning. You can always get better. I’m always trying to find new ways of creating better music. Also stay in the game. There will be many bumps in the road along the way. Just keep getting back up and stay in the game." (Tom Hambridge / Photo © by David Dobson)

Is there a message you are trying to convey with your songs?

Tom: Depends on the song I’m writing. It could be a song of hope or forgiveness like “Skin Deep” or “My Whiskey Years” a song about moving on from a difficult past. It also could be just a fun uplifting song like “Get Outta Town” from my new album “Blu Ja Vu about the freedom of taking a long overdue road trip across the country with someone you love!

What is the role of a producer/songwriter in today’s music? 

Tom: Many producers are hired to make sure the bands music gets recorded properly. I’m not only a Producer but also a songwriter.

Artists and bands come to me to write or co-write the songs and also produce, arrange and record the album.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past?

Tom: I miss record stores where you could spend all day checking out albums, finding new music and also reading liner notes and credits to find out who played on the record, who wrote the songs, where it was recorded. I’d love for that to come back.

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

Tom: I’ve feel blessed to have been given the gift of music. I started playing the drums at 4 years old. As far as I can remember I’ve been a musician. I have been able to record, play with and hear my songs sung by all of my heroes from Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Van Morrison, BB King, ZZ Top, Gregg Allman, Carlos Santana and so many others. I never in my wildest dreams would have believed that any of this was possible but it goes to show if you work hard and dream big sometimes dreams can come true.

"Music has taken me all around the world. I believe the real true power of Blues and Rock and Roll is whether I’m performing my music in India, China, Czechoslovakia or Spain, even if they can’t understand the words they feel the energy of the music. It’s a common language that unites all cultures and speaks to everyone." (Photos: Tom Hambridge with Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbins, BB King, Jeff Beck, and Roy Buchanan. Hambridge has been such a prodigious creator and producer of music that Guy says of him: “Someone like that comes along only once in a lifetime. I call him the white Willie Dixon.”)

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Tom: I wish all musicians and songwriters could get paid enough to make a living and keep creating.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Tom: I believe music can heal and educate people. Music can be used for social change and can help break down walls bring people together.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Tom: Never stop listening and learning. You can always get better. I’m always trying to find new ways of creating better music. Also stay in the game. There will be many bumps in the road along the way. Just keep getting back up and stay in the game.

Tom Hambridge - Home

(Tom Hambridge / Photo © by Krzysztof Szafraniec)