Sep 18

Sep 18 Tom Principato - A music man's four decades

After 45 plus years and a career that includes 19 albums, countless awards, over 5,000 gigs and a record label that he built called Powerhouse Records so he could “do it his way,” Tom Principato, like the lyrics from his song “Robert Johnson told me so,” has caught a lot of trains and in the process, traveled the world spreading his music which consists of passionate performances of funky roots music with scorching guitar.

Tom Principato takes the stage this Friday September 20TH at 9pm, at the iconic JV’s restaurant with longtime friends and musicians, Steve Wolf on bass, and Joe Wells on drums, to sing about a music man’s experiences that span more than four decades, like only he can.

Vizions of Rock caught up with the long-time musician.

Q&A
Vizions of Rock - What are your influences?
Tom Principato - I have eclectic and varied musical taste and influences: B.B. King, Albert King, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Mark Knopfler, New Orleans Rhythm & Blues, Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Indian Hindustani Lap steel guitarists, Chuck Berry.

Vizions of Rock - How did the evolution of your music come together?
Tom Principato - Years of studying roots music styles from all over the world.

Vizions of Rock - How does your song come together, what is the creative process? like?
Tom Principato - For composing instrumentals and (I’ve written quite a few) I first get an idea for a melody and develop a chord structure around that. For Song lyrics, I try to write about personal experiences.

Vizions of Rock - Who writes the songs and how do you get your inspiration to write them?
Tom Principato - I've written most of the original songs we perform and I try to write about personal experiences.

Vizions of Rock - What is the genre of your music?
Tom Principato - Blues based Roots Music and Rock 'n Roll.

Vizions of Rock - How has the music scene changed since you started out?
Tom Principato - When I first started performing in the 1970's most clubs hired bands for 5 nights a week and the same venue. Now it's usually one-nighters.

Vizions of Rock - I see that powerhouse records was created by you. Tell me about Powerhouse and why you decided to create powerhouse records? What did you want to accomplish?
Tom Principato - I got tired and frustrated by hearing stupid and uninformed opinions from other Record Co.'s that I submitted to for a recording contract. So, I decided to start my own Record Co. and do things my way with complete artistic and ownership control. After the label grew and my recordings and label formed a niche in the retail market place, I had then grown enough to offer the same kind of artistic control and "do it your way" to a lot my musical friends and bands, all the while paying a much higher royalty rate than standard record Co deals. I've released albums by Nighthawks, Bob Margolin, Tommy Lepson, Big Joe Maher, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, John Mooney, Kevin McKendree, as well as 19 albums of my own music.

Vizions of Rock - Where do you record your music?
Tom Principato - Usually Bias Recording Co. In Springfield, Va. I have also recorded at Tommy Lepson's studio in College Park. Md.

Vizions of Rock - What is your favorite guitar to play?
Tom Principato - I love Fender guitars the Telecaster and Stratocaster.

Vizions of Rock - What is on the horizon for the future?
Tom Principato - I've had a successful career for over 45 years touring the USA and Europe. I'm recently married and have decided to stop touring outside of the Washington DC area, and enjoy home life with my new family. I only do about 15 shows a year now.