Tom Principato

For years Tom Principato, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, has stood out as a leading figure across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia music circuits. He has also performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, though most of those appearances have taken place in club settings. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny once remarked of Principato, "He has an enormous talent at telling stories in his solos; he doesn't play 'standard' licks." Growing up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., he drew early inspiration from Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton. He absorbed his parents’ recordings of Chet Atkins and the Benny Goodman Sextet featuring Charlie Christian, then, like many teenagers, found himself drawn to Chicago blues during high school.

At the start of his professional life, Principato split his schedule between Washington, D.C., and Boston, two cities central to blues performance. He fronted the band Powerhouse, whose energetic live sets made the group a favorite club attraction in the late 1970s despite the release of only a single album. In 1980 he toured with guitarist Geoff Muldaur and appeared on record as a member of Muldaur’s band. Returning to Washington, D.C., in 1981, he connected with Big Mama Thornton, Billy Price, and Sunnyland Slim & the Assassins, whose lineup included Nighthawks guitarist Jimmy Thackery. Principato participated in two Assassins albums, No Previous Record (1986) and Partners in Crime (1987). By 1987 he had begun a solo career, appearing at clubs in and around the capital and Northern Virginia with a succession of trios.

Since 1984 Principato has issued numerous solo recordings with his own changing ensembles. These releases include Smokin! (1986), I Know What You're Thinkin (1988), the live Blazing Telecasters with Danny Gatton (1990), In Orbit (also 1990), Tip of the Iceberg (1992), In the Clouds (1995), and Really Blue (1998). Subsequent projects were Blues Over the Years (1999), Not One Word (2000), Live in Europe (2001), Fingers on Fire with Pete Kennedy of the folk-rock duo the Kennedys (2002), House on Fire (2003), Oh No! More Blazing Telecasters, another duet album with Danny Gatton (2005), and Guitar Gumbo (2005). The 2008 album Raising the Roof appeared under the Tom Principato Band name, while A Part of Me (2010) returned to solo billing. In 2012 he issued the collaborative Guitars on Fire: Live at Chez Paulette with Fred Chapellier. The tribute album Robert Johnson Told Me So followed in 2013, Live and Still Kickin'! arrived in 2015, and the duet record The Long Way Home with Steve Wolf appeared in 2017.

Over the decades Principato has issued material on his own Powerhouse Records imprint as well as the former Atlanta-based Ichiban label. His concerts, typically backed only by bass and drums, feature extended guitar displays and strong ensemble interplay. Since the 1990s he has maintained endorsement relationships with the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, DR Handmade Strings, Seymour Duncan pickups, and Roger Mayer, whose founder created effects pedals and electronic devices for Jimi Hendrix.

When not performing in clubs and theaters, Principato makes his home in Falls Church, Virginia. Like many blues and roots-rock artists who receive limited mainstream attention, he has found especially receptive audiences in Europe. Apart from a short association with Island Records, he has never been signed to a major label.