Began music at early age. Father was in gospel group with his brother and sisters from the early forties. They had a radio program on a station in Rome Georgia in 40 and 41. Earliest music memories involve going to my grandmothers every Saturday night and watching and listening as they would get together and play and sing. I developed a feel for harmonies at this point from listening to thier 5 point gospel harmonies. my father sang Soprano. From 1988 til my father's death in 1991 I would go with him to my aunts, and they would still sing. But then, I sat in on guitar and sung bass as well.

Earliest music training: In sixth grade I began to study band in school, playing Clarinet. I did learn to read music on it, but when practicing would play my favorite songs "by ear". I did study the harmonies and the voicings and arranging of the band though, and would pinpoint instruments one at a time, listening to thier characteristics and how they were used. During this same time I began to learn guitar, and would teach myself on my s ister's piano when she was not playing it. I never learned to read music on guitar or piano either one. It just seemed to happen.

High School. North Cobb High, Acworth Ga. Graduated 1968. Played Clarinet on into the tenth grade, at which time I began to enjoy the popular music too much. I became a drummer, self taught, and began to play in "Pop" bands in 1965. Over the years in high school I was in several bands, some quite popular, playing Teen Clubs, and even on TV twice. There were the "Battle Of The Bands" that we always played at. I would play whatever we needed. If we needed a guitar player, I filled it, or bass, or keyboard, or drums. Also sang backup harmonies, accompanying an excellent lead singer.

1969-1971 I jammed a lot with different musicians, and began to write music of my own. Also went to Technical School, graduating first in my class in Radio and TV Repair. Actually studied these subjects to learn to make music better, electronically. The education though served me well to make a living for my family until I lifted one TV too many, and had to hang that one up.

1972-1974- Played lead guitar and sang harmony and lead vocals in "The Don King Show". Don King was an excellent Elvis imitator and we were widely known as the best "Elvis" band in Georgia. Each night we did four sets. The first and third sets were normal, and I would do most of the lead vocals, and play lead in the band, as we did old copy tunes. My best in that show were by Dion and the Belmonts, Joe Cocker, B.J.Thomas, and a lot of country tunes, my favorite being Merle Haggard. The second and forth sets were "showtime". Don would come out complete with custom made jumpsuits and scarves his wife would make to give to the ladies. We played tight, clean, and very powerfully. Elvis music was fun, and everyone loved it so dearly. I enjoyed very much watching Don sing lead, and giving him the best harmonies I could, and letting my guitar take it's parts away on the lead breaks.

1976-1983- I was writer, bass player, and lead singer for a band called "Silverelle". We were a mellow folk-blues-rock-country band, that could really kick when it needed to. Our harmonies and music got us a lot of places to play. And many times we were the headline act. Could have made it all that time, except lead player graduated from college and moved away. I also went back to school, getting an Associates degree in Electronics Technology. Again, first in my class, and again to find better ways to make and record music.

1988-1991- Owned and operated my own company. Magic Music. Taught Midi concepts as well as songwriting. Also did demo tapes for people. Spent a lot of time developing my own style more and more. Several very successful projects, including one called "Sand Box Songs" which I did with a lady who owned a company that supplied music and songs for many day care centers in this area.I helped refine the words a little, and then assisted her in arranging them. For she had been a piano teacher for thirty years, but could not play a note of what she heard in her head to go with the songs. So I taught her how to play the songs she had written, and then engineered and produced a cassette tape of the project. It is still being used in many day care centers. I remember that it was strange at first. A professional singer was hired, a lady, to do the voacls. Some were so childlike, but that was what we were there for. After a half hour of fighting the giggles and trying not to laugh, we got serious. The result was something to be very proud of, for many hundreds of children, probably thousands, now know those songs.

Then til now- Written a lot, developed a lot more as an arranger and keyboard player, and have played a lot of Songwriter Showcases in Atlanta. Have also recorded in studio with wife Judy singing lead, as I played all instruments. Turned out really well, and Judy and I have developed our own style, and do love our music.

Now- I am a senior electronics tech for a medical manufacturer in Marietta Georgia. Healthdyne. They make the same monitor that kept our premature baby alive for her first year. That is what I work on. When she survived, I know I had to go there, just for that.

Musically, I am working on my first real solo album. It will be called "Camping In The Celestial". It will be sold from the Williamsholler site on the internet in the beginning, until a record company hopefully takes it over. I now have six of the fourteen songs I will need for the full cassette. I have just now put together most of my midi gear, and will worry about getting a good cassette deck when the time comes. I do believe it is meant to be though, and several orders have been placed for the cassette on the net already. I think the market can be suitable for a small record label, as long as it is done right. This is my dream, and I am living it.

Otherwise, I love to write and to teach. I have always been a writer, whether music or tech. I enjoy conveying thoughts, and ideas, on any level. Or otherwise. Judy and I have written many romance stories together. We each just play a part and write it as we go along. It is our goal to pursue this as well as time goes on. Eventually we hope to combine all of these things to make a living as a cottage industry. Judy wants to design and maintain home pages for people and for companies, and she has learned quite a lot. Our own page is an example of what she can do. Til now she has done all volunteer work, for families of murdered and missing children, and parents who have lost little ones to disease. That is her heart.

Come over to our place, and visit! Tommy and Judy's Creative Lounge