Meet Tommy Grills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Grills.

Tommy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up in rural NY state my father had a passion for music so we were exposed to folk music and occasionally musicians would stop our house to play. My father went on to open a Night Club in Rochester NY where I was exposed to some musicians like Miles Davis, John Hammond, Freddie King, Harry Chapin, Steve Goodman. John Prine and even Cheech and Chong. I worked there all thru High School and finally got my own guitar when I was 16 yrs old. I then heard BB King doing the Thrill is Gone and that cinched it I wanted to play the Blues. It was 1972, Vietnam was still rolling and I began to learn the blues forming my first band in Rochester in 1979 Midnight Blues band which was quite popular in both the Black bars and the Rock Clubs. Met James Cotton in 1977 and played with him and many other great blues guitarists like Robert Jr Lockwood and Roy Buchanan. I moved to AZ in 1993 and won the AZ Blues showdown sponsored by local blues society. Played around town at clubs and restaurants with my band and Big Pete Pearson. Recently, I have recorded my first solo cd in Baton Rouge La produced by Grammy-nominated blues musician Kenny Neal. I hope that will open up some doors to better gigs in AZ.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Popularity of Blues has diminished over the last two decades largely due to lack of venues that are dedicated blues clubs not masquerading as a Blues club when the bands play hip hop and R&B there. Also, politics play a large role in getting gigs at blues clubs and festivals here in Phoenix. If you re not one of the “cool kids” then you have nothing coming.

Tommy Grills Band – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I can play almost any kind of popular music and have been putting bands together to back me up. These days we play a variety of music that fits any venue we play at. I have a high standard for musicians that work with me. I also play Irish Traditional music and at one time I had two bands at once. The Irish music is a labor of love but it also can be lucrative every st Paddys day. I play reggae with a close friend in Tucson whenever he gets a big outdoor show so I am the proverbial Guitar Slinger with an axe for any gig.

Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
I was an explorer.. loved going outdoors to the woods and streams in my rural town, learned outdoor skills in the boy scouts. Loved to fish. Always loved music and listened to early Venture records and records my dad had. This was the 60’s so I saw it all. But music was something I loved and I had a front-row seat when I worked in My Dads Night Club and saw so many great bands and musicians play there and that had a lasting effect on me. Something about a group of people playing music together looked like a lot of fun.

Contact Info:

• Email: tgrills77@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/Music/tommy-grills-band/2050946541812462/

Image Credit:
Mark Spoener

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