Tom Hambridge


Thomas Jay "Tom" Hambridge is an American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received two Grammy Awards, an ASCAP award, seven Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame. In December 2015, Tom was given the key to his hometown of Buffalo, NY with Mayor Byron Brown declaring December 28 "Tom Hambridge Day." Hambridge's songs have been recorded by several notable artists and have been featured in movie productions, commercials and television programs. He has been referred to as "The White Willie Dixon" by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi's "Secret Weapon".

Biography

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Hambridge began learning the drums at the age of 5. He played his first paying gig, a bar mitzvah, in third grade. Throughout his school years, Hambridge played in garage bands, his high school orchestra and jazz band. After graduating from high school in 1979, he received a scholarship at Boston's Berklee College of Music.
He received his degree in Professional Music in 1983. After graduation, he worked for three years as drummer and lead singer for the blues guitarist Roy Buchanan. While working with Buchanan, Hambridge contributed as a musician on Buchanan's release, Live: Amazing Grace. In the meantime, he formed the band "T.H. and the Wreckage". In 1988, the band released Born to Rock, one of several independent, self-produced albums Hambridge has completed. Born To Rock was the first of the many Boston Music Awards he has received. In the meantime, he assisted promoters assemble backup bands for artists such as Bo Diddley, Percy Sledge, Chuck Berry, Gary Puckett, and Sha Na Na.
Hambridge released his own album Still Running in 1996.
In 1997, he produced Susan Tedeschi's Just Won't Burn. Hambridge wrote Tedeschi's Top 10 hits "Rock Me Right" and "It Hurt So Bad". In the meantime, he also released his own album Balderdash in 2000. Hambridge received a subsequent 2004 Grammy nomination for his contributions on Johnny Winter's release I'm A Bluesman . Shortly thereafter, Hambridge released his album Bang N' Roll and the album Live.
In 2008, he received Grammy nominations for his work on Buddy Guy's Skin Deep. Skin Deep debuted at number 68 on the Billboard 200 which was the highest position of any of Guy's previous albums, and was number 1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. Hambridge released his own album Boogieman. In 2011, he won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for co-writing and producing Buddy Guy's album Living Proof.
He was credited as the producer, songwriter and percussionist for George Thorogood and the Destroyers 2011 release 2120 South Michigan Ave., which included the song "Going Back" that reached number 1 on Classic Rock Radio. Also in 2011, he wrote and produced B. B. King and Buddy Guy's duet "Stay Around A Little Longer."
Other recognized 2011 successes include writing/co-writing all songs on Quinn Sullivan's release Cyclone. Later in 2013, Hambridge would do the same on Quinn Sullivan's release "Getting There" which charted at 38 on the Billboard Blues Charts.
In 2015, Hambridge earned his second Grammy Award for Best Blues Album for his contributions as a musician, producer, composer and mixer on Buddy Guy's Born to Play Guitar.
In 2016, Hambridge produced Mike Zito's album "Make Blues Not War" which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Charts on December 10, 2016 and earned his seventh Grammy Award Nomination for his production work on Bloodline.
Hambridge's songs and productions have appeared on a variety of television shows, movies and commercials. These include "It Hurt's So Bad" on PBS's Austin City Limits, Autumn Hearts, VH1's Born To Diva, NBC's Conan O'Brien, and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. In addition, "Rock Me Right" appeared in Autumn Hearts, David Letterman Show, NASCAR Rocks II, and Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. "I Fell in Love" appeared on the Bug soundtrack. Plus, "Road Trip" and "I Got A New Car" appeared in the movie Cars. "Flying By" appeared in the film, Flying By.
Hambridge has performed multiple times at the White House. On February 21, 2012, he joined Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Mick Jagger, BB King and others in a performance for the White House's "Red, White and Blues" Black History Month celebration concert. During the performance, President Barack Obama provided a brief history of the Blues and accompanied the group during the song "Sweet Home Chicago". On October 14, 2015, Hambridge returned to the White House with Buddy Guy, Marty Sammon, Trombone Shorty, Carol Burnett, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Keb Mo, Smokey Robinson and others for "A Celebration of American Creativity: In Performance at the White House", commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Credits

;As leader
YearAlbumLabel
1995Still RunningBad Mood Records
1998BalderdashArtemis Records
2004Bang N' RollUTR Music Group
2007Tom Hambridge & the Rattlesnakes LiveBlack Rose Records
2009BoogiemanBlack Rose Records
2011Boom!Superstar Factory
2018The NOLA SessionsSuperstar Factory

;As contributing artist
YearRecording ArtistAlbumSongsContributionAward
1998Susan TedeschiJust Won't BurnFriars Point, It Hurt So Bad, Rock Me RightGuest Artist, producer, Drums, Tambourine, Timbales, Percussion, Vocals, composerGrammy Nominated Best Contemporary Blues Album
2000Bernard AllisonAcross The WaterI Want To Get You BackComposer
Farm AidFarm Aid: Keep America Growing, Vol. 1Composer-
Flintstones in Viva Rock VegasProducer/Composer-
2002Susan TedeschiWait For MeTil I Found You, I Fell in LoveComposer
NRBQAtsa My BandYou Were The OneComposer
Tim KrekelHappy TownBest Thing I Never HadVocals, composer
2003Ana PopovicComfort to the SoulFool ProofComposer
George Thorogood & The DestroyersRide 'Til I DieThe FixerGuest Artist, producer, Vocals, composer
Lynyrd SkynyrdVicious CycleJake, Mad Hatter, Pick'Em Up, Rockin' Little Town, Sweet MamaVocal Harmony, composer
Martin Scorsese: Best of the BluesBest of The BluesBest of the BluesPerformer
Peter Malick Group Featuring Norah JonesNew York CityNew York CityComposer/Performer
2004Montgomery GentryYou Do Your ThingAdditional Personnel, Vocals, musician-
Jeffrey SteeleOutlawDrive, Shot GlassPercussion, Vocals, musician, composer
Scott HoltChipped Front ToothComposer
Johnny WinterI'm A BluesmanCheatin' Blues, Lone WolfMixing, Audio Production, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, composerGrammy Nominated; Best Contemporary Blues Album
2005Delbert McClintonCost Of LivingI Had A Real Good Time, Kiss Her Once For Me, One of the Fortunate Few, Right To Be WrongVocals, Percussion, composer
Colin LindenSouthern JumboI Give UpComposer
Jimmy ThackeryHealin GroundGet Up, Had Enough, Upside of LonelyMain Personnel, Drums, composer
Keith AndersonThree Chord Country and American Rock & RollEvery Time I Hear Your Name, Podunk "Every Time I Hear Your Name" debuted at number 49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of January 7, 2006.Vocals, Vocals, composer2007 ASCAP Song of the Year. "Every Time I Hear Your Name" debuted at number 49 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of January 7, 2006
Shemekia CopelandSoul TruthYou Can't Have ThatVocals, composer
Van ZantGet Right with the ManI Know My History, Sweet Mama, Things I Miss The MostComposer
2006Beccy ColeFeel This FreeYou Can't Have ThatComposer
Cody McCarverPeace, Love and CoondawgsCountry BadassComposer
George ThorogoodThe Hard StuffAny Town USA, The Hard StuffPercussion, Vocals, Associate Producer, composer
John BrannenTwilight Tattoo-AdvanceHeartbreak RidgeDrums, Percussion, composer
Lee Roy ParnellBack to the WellYou Can't Lose 'Em AllDrums, composer
Montgomery GentrySome People ChangeYour Tears Are CominComposer
Rodney AtkinsIf You're Going Through HellAbout The SouthComposer
Pat GreenCannonballI'm Tryin' To Find ItComposer
T. Graham BrownPresentThe PresentComposer
Tom Hambridge / DisneyCars Lightning McQueen's Fast TracksRoad Trip, I Got A New CarPrimary Artist
2007Billy Ray CyrusHome at LastFlying ByVocals, composerFlying By is a 2009 drama film directed by Jim Amatulli and starring Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear, Olesya Rulin and Patricia Neal. It was the final film for Neal.
Joe NicholsReal ThingsMy Whiskey YearsComposer
Van ZantMy Kind of CountryFriend, Goes Down Easy, My Kind of CountryComposer
Barbara Blue Blues BandBy Popular DemandComposer
DisneyPixar Buddy Songs / Ratatouille: What's Cooking?Primary Artist
2008Andre WilliamsRhythm and BluesShe Don't Eat MeatProducer, Liner Notes, Drums, Percussion
Felix CavaliereNudge It Up A NotchImpossible, Without YouComposer
Jeffrey SteeleGold, Platinum, No Chrome, More Steele: Greatest Hits, Vol 2.Everytime I Hear Your NameMember of Attributed Artist, Drums, Percussion, composer
Jeffrey SteeleCountrypolitanMy Whiskey YearsMember of Attributed Artist, Drums, composer
Jeffrey SteeleHell On WheelsHelldorado, Sweet Salvation of Southern Rock and Roll, Tryin to Find It, YourComposer
Steve CropperNudge It Up A NotchImpossible, Without YouComposer
Gary Nicholson Whitey JohnsonDrums
Montgomery GentryMy Town/You Do Your ThingVocals, musician
Buddy GuySkin DeepBest Damn Fool, Too Many Tears, Lyin' Like A Dog, Show Me The Money, Every Time I Sing The Blues, Out of The Woods, That's My Home, Skin Deep, Who's Gonna Fill Those ShoesProducer, Mixing, Main Personnel, Vocals, Drums, Tambourine, Handclapping, Percussion, Vocals Grammy Nominated: Best Traditional Blues Album
George Thorogood and The DestroyersThe Hard StuffLove Doctor, I Didn't KnowComposer
2009Billy Ray CyrusBack To TennesseeGive It To SomebodyComposer
Chris YoungMan I Want To BeThe ShoeboxComposer
Andy PrattLive at the Village Underground 2003Drums
Roy BuchananLive Amazing GraceDrums
Jennie DevoeStrange SunshineComposer
Delbert McClintonAcquired TasteShe's Not There Anymore, Until ThenDrums, composer
Delbert McClintonBoogiemanYou're My Kind of TroubleComposer
Don RichYou're MistakenIt Hurt So BadComposer
Jack IngramBig Dreams & High HopesNot Giving Up On MeComposer
Mark LowryLife Gets LoudTake It Up With JesusComposer
Murali CoryellSugar LipsBlame It On Me, Closer To You Baby, I Could've Had You, I Still Do, Minor Funk, Still Rockin, Sugar Lips, What Works On You, What You Gonna Do About Me, Where is the SpiritProducer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, composer
Taylor HicksDistanceNineteenComposer
2010Buddy GuyLiving ProofAll TracksProducer, Mixing, composer, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Vocals Grammy Award Winner Best Contemporary Blues Album
Danny GokeyMy Best DaysLife On YaComposer
Eden BrentAin't Got No TroublesRight To Be WrongComposer
Steve Cropper & Felix CavaliereMidnight FlyerAll Nigh Long, Chance WIth Me, Early Morning, Midnight Flyer, Move The House, Now, Sexy Lady, When You're With Me, you Give Me All I NeedProducer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, composer
Gretchen WilsonI Got Your Country Right HereI Got Your Country Right Here, Walk On WaterComposer
Guitar ShortyBare KnuckleGet OffComposer
Meat LoafHang Cool Teddy BearBoneyardComposer
Joanna SmithGetting MarriedGettin' MarriedComposer
2011Billy Ray CyrusI'm AmericanNineteenComposer
George Thorogood2120 South Michigan Ave.Going Back, Willie Dixon's GoneProducer, Mixing, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, composer
Bob Bogdal/McKnight & Bogdal/Elam McKnightZombie NationDrums
Marcia BallRoadside AttractionsTheir Party's Still Going OnComposer
Quinn SullivanCycloneAll tracksComposer/Performer/ProducerAlbum Earned number 7 on the Billboard Blues charts, July 30, 2011
2012Joe Louis WalkerHellfireHellfire, Ride All Night, I Won't Do That, I'm On To You, What's It WorthProducer, Mixing, Drums, Percussion
Rascal FlattsChangedShe's LeavingComposer
Buddy GuyLive at LegendsBest Damn Fool, Skin Deep Polka Dot Love, Coming For YouProducer, Mixing, Vocals, Mastering, composer, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
The OutlawsIt's About PrideNothin' Main About Main StreetComposer
ZZ TopLa FuturaOver you, I Don't Wanna Lose You, Threshold of A Break downComposer
Lynyrd SkynyrdLast of a Dyin BreedGood Teacher, Nothing Comes Easy, Honey Hole, Do It Up RightComposer
Colin LindenStill LiveI Give UpComposer
Beverly RohlehrChristmas GumboSanta's HidewayComposer
Michael BurksShow Of StrengthI Want To Get You BackComposer
Jim QuickDown SouthIt's Always SomethingComposer
The CrawdiddiesSoul of A Man'Til I Found YouComposer
Tre MichaelsShotglassComposer
Wayne Baker BrooksTricks Up My Sleeves EPComposer, Drums, producer
Ernie and the AutomaticsGood As GoneGood ThingComposer
2013Buddy GuyRhythm & BluesBest in Town, Justifyin’, I Go By Feel, What's Up With That Woman, One
Day Away, What You Gonna Do About Me, The Devil's Daughter, Whiskey Ghost,
Rhythm Inner Groove, Meet Me in Chicago, Too Damn Bad, Evil Twin, I Could Die
Happy, Never Gonna Change, All That Makes Me Happy Is The Blues, My Mama Loved
Me, Blues Don't Care, I Came Up Hard		Producer, Mixing, Mastering, composer, Drums, Tambourine, Vocals Debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Magazine's Blues chart, Debuted at No. 27 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums
Quinn SullivanGetting ThereCheckin’ Out, Catch A Groove, Getting There, World in Change, Mr. Gloom,
I Know I Know, Rock Hard, She Gets Me, Cyclone, Like Your Love, Things I Won't
Forget, End of the Day		ComposerNumber 38 on the Billboard Blues Charts, August 24, 2013
Delbert & GlenBlind Crippled & CrazyPeace in the ValleyComposer, Drums
George Thorogood/George Thorogood & The DestroyersIconProducer
George Thorogood/George Thorogood & The DestroyersRide 'Til I Die/The Hard StuffAdditional Production, Associate Producer, composer, Percussion, Vocals, Vocals
James CottonCotton Mouth ManCotton Mouth Man, Midnight Train, Mississippi Mud, Something For Me,
Blues Is Good For You, Hard Sometimes, He Was There, Saint On Sunday, Wrapped
Around My Heart, Young Bold Women, Wasn't My Time To Go, Bonnie Blue		Producer, Mixing, Mastering, Drums, Percussion, Vocals 2014 Grammy Nominee for Best Blues Album
Eric Bourdon'Til Your River Runs DryOld Habits Die HardComposer
Jack Mack & The Heart Attack HornsLook' Up!Lonely No More, Lookin' Up, Good Man GoneComposer
The McCrary SistersAll The WaySkin DeepComposer
Sean ChambersThe Rock House SessionsJust For the Thrill, Money in a MinuteComposer
Sena EhrhardtAll InI Want To Get You BackComposer
Clay McClintonBitin' At The BitSound of a Small TownComposer
Andy T/Nick Nixon BandDrink Drank DrunkDrink Drank DrunkComposer
RB StoneLoosen UpHigh Horse, Loosen Up, God Heals You When You Cry, She's Too Hot To HandleComposer
Kree HarrisonAmerican Idol Top 4 Season 12/19 RecordingsIt Hurt So BadComposerAmerican Idol Performance
2014Devon AllmanRagged & DirtyHalf Truth, Can't Lose 'Em All, Leavin, Times Have ChangedProducer, Mixing, Mastering, composer, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Vocals, Xylophone
Brad HatfieldFor A ChangeThat's My Home,Back Door Scratchin’, Behave Yourself, Smarter Than I Was, Devil On Both
Shoulders, So Much So Little, Good Love After Bad, Drink Drank Drunk, For A
Change, Swamp Poker		Composer
Keb' Mo'BLUES AmericanaMoveComposer, Drums
Lee Ann WomackThe Way I'm LivinDrums
Jeremiah JohnsonGrindMastering
Too Slim and the TaildraggersAnthologyWishing Well, Big Ol' HouseProducer, Mixing, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Mastering
JW-JonesBelmont BoulevardLove Times Ten, Blue Jean Jacket, Coming After Me, Don't Be Ashamed,
What Would Jimmie Do?, If It Feels Good Tomorrow, Cocaine Boy		Composer
Clay McClintonBitin' At The BitSound of a Small TownComposer
Joe Louis WalkerHornet's NestHornet's Nest, All I Wanted To Do, As The Sun Goes Down, Stick a Fork In Me, Love Enough, Ramblin’ Soul, I'm Gonna Walk Outside, Not in Kansas Anymore, Keep the FaithProducer, Mixing, Drums, Tambourine, Percussion, Vocals, Mastering, composer
Dana RobbinsDanna RobbinsHardest Part, Bless Your HeartProducer, Mixing, Mastering, composer, Drums, Finger Snaps, Tambourine
2015Buddy GuyBorn To Play GuitarBorn To Play Guitar, Wear You Out, Back Up
Mama, Whiskey Beer & Wine, Kiss Me Quick, Crying Out Of One Eye, Turn
Me Wild, Crazy World, Smarter Than I Was, Thick Like Mississippi Mud, Flesh And
Bone, Come Back Muddy		Producer, Mixing, composer, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Triangle, Vocals, Wind ChimesGrammy Best Blues Album
Royal Southern BrotherhoodDon't Look BackHard BluesProducer, Mixing, Mastering, composer
Rodney AtkinsGreatest HitsAbout The SouthComposer
2016Mike ZitoMake Blues Not WarHighway Mama, Wasted Time, Red Bird, Crazy Legs, Make Blues Not War, On
The Road, One More Train To Ride, Girl Back Home, Chip Off The Old Block, Road
Dog		Producer, Mixing, Drums, Mastering, composer, Vocal HarmonyDebuted at number 1 on the Billboard Music Charts on December 10, 2016
Ana PopovicTrilogyMastering, Mixing, producer
Devon AllmanRide Or DieShattered TimesProducer, Mixing, Drums, Percussion, Mastering, composer
Ronnie DunnTattooed HeartThat's Why They Make Jack DanielsComposer
Kenny NealBloodlineReal Friend, I Can't Wait, I'm So Happy, I Go By Feel, BloodlineProducer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, composer, engineer, Mastering, MixingGrammy Nomination
Joe BonamassaBlues of DesperationMountain Climbing, Distant Lonesome TrainComposer
RossingtonTake It On FaithI Should’ve Known, Shame On Me, Something FishyComposer
FoghatUnder The InfluenceUnder The Influence, Knock It Off, Upside of Lonely, Heart's Gone Cold, Hot Mama, GhostProducer, Mixing, Percussion, composer
Tasha TaylorHoney for the BiscuitWeatherman, How Long, Leave That Dog AloneComposer
2017Quinn SullivanMidnight HighwaySomething For Me, Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming, Midnight Highway, Crazy Into You, Eyes For You, Lifting Off, She Gets Me, Rocks, Going, Graveyard Stone, Big Sky, Buffalo NickelComposer/Producer/Performer
Jim AllchinDecisionsAll tracksProducer, Drums, Percussion, composer
2018Joe BonamassaRedemptionEvil MamaComposer
2019Christone "Kingfish" IngramKingfishOutside of this Town, Fresh Out, It Ain't Right, Been Here Before, If You Love Me, Love Ain't My Favorite Word, Listen, Before I'm Old, Believe These Blues, Trouble, Hard Times, That's Fine By MeProducer, composer, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals2020 Grammy Nominee for Best Traditional Blues Album