He began his career as a professional musician over thirty years ago at a night club in Osaka, Japan. Since that time he has entertained audiences as a soloist and with a number of groups in the San Francisco area, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and throughout the midwest. Tom’s Bio
He’s currently appearing in the Beacon Lounge at the top of the Historic Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, Michigan.
Performance ScheduleRecently, his creative efforts have focused on the construction of a series of unusual outdoor musical instruments like his lithophones and friction harp. His sound sculptures are featured at the Children’s Garden at the Charlevoix Michigan Public Library, and at the Garoon Gateway to Science in Lake Zurich, Illinois.
In 2009 he completed the Earth Tones Musical Garden at Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan, Michigan. This video demonstrates some of the instruments:
In 2001 Tom began a new career as a sculptor, when he designed a musical wire sculpture called Your Name Rings a Bell. Since then he has created an ever expanding collection of whimsical wire figures, three dimensional doodles, and customized mobiles. You can see his work, and hear an original composition, in this video:
In addition to a busy performance schedule, Tom continues to compose and record his original music.
He is also the owner of Tinkertunes Music Studios in Traverse City, a music teaching facility he opened in 1995. His Traveling Musical Instrument Petting Zoo is a hands-on learning experience that has delighted thousands of students of all ages, in schools, libraries, and museums throughout the region. In October 2009 Tinkertunes travelled to Waterford, Ireland for the Imagine Arts Festival for a series of school programs and a concert.
His Upright Furniture Company which builds custom designed desks, made from old upright pianos, has been featured in several publications including The Detroit News, Traverse Magazine, and The Record Eagle.
Tom and his wife Judy Childs have two children, their son Miles and daughter, Elise.
