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A musician for over 25 years, Tom started out learning classical guitar in rural upstate Greenwich, New York. studying with Jean Collins. Inevitably, growing up on heavy doses of NPR, Shostakovich, Miles Davis and Dave Van Ronk in his parents' living room, he branched out, picking up flute and piano, and leaned toward progressive veins. Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, Rush, The Beatles, Miles Davis and Yes were (and still are) major influences. While at Greenwich Central High School, there wasn't enough low-end in the concert band, so he backed up the trombones on bass, started to assist and coach his classmates, became assistant jazz-band director and eventually began teaching privately by the age of 18. During this time he studied with Joel Brown (Skidmore College), and Tony Sano (College of St. Rose) In the late 80's and early 90's he filled out his time as singer and guitarist for local acts, Icarus (his 3-piece from high school) and Cold Shot, in the Saratoga and Glens Falls, NY area.

The early and mid-90's were spent earning a music degree at SUNY PURCHASE, and bouncing around NYC, catching the jams at classic haunts such as Terra Blues, The Bitter End, the Scrap Bar, and CBGB Gallery, studying under David Starobin, Bill Anderson, Jim McElwaine, Alvin Brehm, Vishnu Wood, Doug Munro,Anthony Newman and others. Tom's graduate work in 20th century analysis and orchestral conducting was cut short by finances, but working with contemporary composers had its merits..Three premiers in that time period were GOING HOME '94 FOR FOUR GUITARS/MEYER KUPFERMAN (later recorded by faculty of the Manhattan School of Music), MUSIC FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND TAPE/HERBERT VASQUEZ, and THE BOOK OF RAYGUNS (for six microtonal guitars), by PGSIX, originally released on the Electrolux label and now available from Amish Records. STEVE REICH'S works, such as ELECTRIC COUNTERPOINT, PIANO PHASE and CLAPPING MUSIC were frequently incorporated into his performances,as Reich’s very popular Minimalistic angle has been a heavy influence on Tom’s train of thought. Tom made himself available as a transcriber/arranger and became a member of ASCAP. I DO! I DO! 14 WEDDING SONGS FOR FLUTE AND GUITAR was published by CHERRY LANE MUSIC in 1996, and is now one of the most popular wedding songbooks on the market today.

Jazz-rock cover bands, such as Katy Lied, footed the bill until he returned to upstate NY in 1997 and founded the open-mic at Borders Books & Music in Albany. From 2000 to 2005 Tom was the Stage Manager with Mona Golub's Second Wind Productions, a reknowned regional promoter, whose acts have included LOS LOBOS, JOHN HAMMOND, SUZANNE VEGA, FEMI KUTI, STEVE EARLE and The SUBDUDES. In addition, he has worked as a stage tech for the City of Albany on the "Alive At Five" Concert series, LarkFest, and other regional festivals. Currently located in Schenectady, he writes and teaches from his home, and contracts weddings/events, arranging and studio work. His solo performances include a mixture of blues, rock, country and traditional classical repertoire. Tom can be contacted at tomkellermusic@gmail.com.

TOM'S CURRENT INSTRUMENTS: