Tom Hambridge

BMHOF Class of 2001

What do George Thorogood, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McClinton, Susan Tedeschi, Van Zant, B.B. King, NRBQ, Hank Williams Jr. and Shemekia Copeland have in common? Triple threat, two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer, producer, drummer TOM HAMBRIDGE!

A native son of Buffalo New York, Tom started playing drums at the age of 5. His formal education began with a scolarship at Boston's Berklee College Of Music, where he frequently returns as a guest lecturer. After years of touring and performances with many of the biggest names in the business (Chuck Berry, Roy Buchanan and many more), Tom set his sights on Nashville where he lives and works today as a producer, songwriter & performer. Since being in Nashville, Tom has enjoyed remarkable success.

As a producer, he's worked with some of the best in the business. Tom produced the 2009 Grammy nominated Buddy Guy CD "SKIN DEEP" for Sony which features Buddy and Tom with Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph and Willie Weeks. Tom received a 2005 Grammy nomination for his role as producer of Johnny Winter’s newest recording "I’m a Bluesman." He’s worked in the studio with Norah Jones, Jonny Lang and Boston, just to name a few. In addition to producing Susan Tedeschi's Platinum-selling Grammy-nominated "Just Won't Burn" CD, Tom wrote her Top 10 Triple A hits "Rock Me Right" and "It Hurt So Bad".  He co-produced George Thorogood's "Ride Til I Die" CD which debuted at 1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. He also sang, played drums and has four songs on Thorogood's latest release "The Hard Stuff" including the title track. Tom Produced new releases by Anthony Gomes and Jim Suhler's Monkey Beat. And as of January 2009, Tom has been in the studio producing tracks for the legendary B.B. King.

As a songwriter Tom is on fire. Tom received the 2007 ASCAP Music Award for Song Of The Year "Every Time I Hear Your Name". Tom has also penned 10 songs on Buddy Guy's "Skin Deep" CD including the first single.  He has written the title track of Gretchen Wilson's forthcoming CD and has songs on new CD's by Craig Morgan, Chris Young and Jack Ingram. Tom's song "Flying By" is the inspiration behind the forthcoming Major Motion picture "Flying By". This song was also recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus and can be found on his "Home At Last" CD. Tom wrote five songs on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Vicious Cycle" CD and has a song on Skynyrd's Platinum selling "THYRTY" Greatest Hits collection on MCA, and one song on their "Lyve" CD. Tom co-wrote two songs on Keith Anderson's Arista CD, including his top 5 single "Every Time I Hear Your Name," which was the 16th most played song at country radio in 2006. Tom has three songs on Van Zant's Certified Gold Sony debut release including the single, "Things I Miss The Most."  Tom also wrote 3 songs including the title track on Van Zant's brand new Sony release including the hit single "Goes Down Easy". Tom has written four songs on Delbert McClinton's 2006 Grammy winning CD "Cost Of Living" including the first single "One Of The Fortunate Few". Tom has songs on CDs by Montgomery Gentry, Pat Green, Pam Tillis, Joe Nichols, T. Graham Brown, and wrote a song on Rodney Atkins Certified Platinum new release. He has two songs on Jeffrey Steele’s "Outlaw" CD and four songs on his "Helldorado" CD. Tom has two songs on Susan Tedeschi's live CD, a song on Shemekia Copeland's latest CD, several songs on blues legend Jimmy Thackery's new release, as well as Lee Roy Parnell's CD "Back To The Well". Tom has songs on the latest CD collaboration by Felix Cavaliere & Steve Cropper, "Nudge It Up A Notch". Tom is also writing songs with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons for a forthcoming CD by the legendary Texas band. Oh yea he also has a song in the Disney movie "Bug," starring Ashley Judd.

As a drummer Tom has recorded and/or toured with the band Boston, James Taylor, Ben Orr of The Cars, Hank Williams Jr., Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Roy Buchanan. Tom played drums on the 2008 Grammy Winning "Best Rock Gospel Album Of The Year" by Ashley Cleveland, as well as playing drums on releases by Johnny Winter, PF Sloan, Susan Tedeschi and Jeffrey Steele.

As a recording artist, Tom has released four solo CDs.  "Balderdash", released in 2000, produced two Triple A hit singles.  The follow-up CD to "Balderdash" was 2005's release "Bang N' Roll".  In 2007, Tom released a Live CD with his band The Rattlesnakes.  The aptly named "Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes Live" is a result of heavy touring in support of his previous solo release "Bang N' Roll".  Tom's band opened for The Black Crowes, Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, George Thorogood, and .38 Special, just to name a few.  In early 2009, Tom's newest CD "Boogieman" has officially hit the streets. It is now available at CD Baby and iTunes.