Tom's Tunes Presents:

The TomCats are a group of musical vets highly seasoned with sweet heat. They are Bill Smith, Danny Shuford, Marcus Daniels and Tom Dessain. They play all original, all the time with a socially conscious base along with plenty of life's' little quirks sprinkled in. The sound is an alluring mix of Funk n’ Swing, Folk n’ Rock and funny. Tom and Bill have been stylin’ together for 17 years while Danny and Marcus complete the big combo gumbo groove. Hailing from Salida, Moffat and Crestone, they get together, got it together and together, give it back. So get your “Meow” on and check-out the new sound around town from TomCats. They're fresh, funny and friendly.

"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 Blues
Band. 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