| Bluesman Tom Malafarina was born July 23, 1955 in Ashland, Pennsylvania in the heart of the "Hard Coal Region". He grew up in this hard-working blue-collar community amid low income and high unemployment. From this humble, constantly struggling community, with its strong ethnic roots, Tom learned the importance of hard work, honesty, determination and the importance of keeping a good sense of humor. In 1967 at the age of twelve, Tom was given his older sister's S&H Greenstamp brand acoustic guitar and began his life long love of music. Tom spent countless hours with his guitar until it became like an extension of himself. Tom never sought to be a "lead guitarist" or "guitar soloist" or "Guitar God", but concentrated on rhythm and bass guitar instead. He enjoyed strumming and picking and combining notes to form chords that allowed him to express his emotions. During the 1970's Tom played in a variety of local Schuylkill County Bands of all types, from "Wedding" bands to "Rock" bands to "Blues" bands to "Progressive Rock" bands. It was at this time that he first became familiar with the Blues through some of the well known British blues influences of that day such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, not to mention the American influence of Johnny Winter. At the age of twenty-two in 1977, Tom tired of the band scene and decide to take a break from performing for a short time. Little did he know at the time that this brief pause would last for about TWENTY THREE YEARS! During the time while Tom was "retired", he continued to play at home and jam with musicians and friends whenever he could, while attending evening college and building a career as a Computer Aided Manufacturing Engineer. During this time his love for the blues grew, as did his desire to compose and perform blues songs exclusively. At the turn of the 21st century, with the onset of the new mellenium, Tom came out of retirement with a mission to focus all of his musical talents in one direction, the BLUES. Whether performing with the Blues City Blues Band , or with his side band the Smokehoue Ramblers or writing and performing original blues tunes as a solo act, Tom is 100% a BLUESMAN. |
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| Brief Biography |