Tom's Tunes Presents:

"My brother Kenny kidnapped me in my teens one summer and brought me to Salida Colorado from Texas. There I met J. N. Bates from the Lazy Aliens BluesBand. He was sitting around a campfire playing old folk tunes and I thought that was so cool.  

So I borrowed my brother Ron's guitar, never to be returned, and 2
songbooks and started my adventure. Not knowing any better, I went ahead and wrote songs like I could. Turns out I could.
I moved to Austin Tx. for college during the Progressive Country movement.  This was a huge influence for me. Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zant, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Asleep at the Wheel and many others were just playing around locally in restaurants and clubs.
I then moved to Colorado and have had continuous musical adventures ever since. 

I have recorded 3 albums. Tofu To Go, a collection of my originals, Rescue Party, a collaboration of 3 songwriters and then Don & Tom Live and Lovin' it. This is a live album of originals and favorites by Don Richmond and myself. I've been in 4 bands; The Peach Tree Pickers, The Never Ready Band, Rescue Party and now TomCats. 
I studied Music Education at Adams University and taught rock/grass/pop band along with sound, songwriting and vocals for 11 years at the Crestone Charter School. 

I founded Crestone Performances Inc., a 501c3 non-profit, in 2002 and was the executive director until 2022. CPI produced the Crestone MusicFestival, cultural and educational shows in schools, carnivals in schools, student open mics and student music videos.
In 2009 I started a lifelong musical bromance with bass player Bill Smith. Together we became TomCats. Now with Marcus Daniels and Danny Shufort adding to the mix, the TomCats have become an over the top, all original, full blast, funny funky force. My hope is to be able to play till I can't, sell a song and sitin the shade."

 -Tom Dessain