1. Tom Hampton began his musical career as a drummer during his junior high school years; having taught himself to play on a kit that he bought from a neighbor.
15 Facts About Tom Hampton
1. 2.
Tom Hampton had been inspired by musical artists such as Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg and Stephen Stills, which led to his desire to learn guitar and explore songwriting.
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Tom Hampton immediately began working as a musician, first joining bands and later as a solo acoustic act.
4.
Tom Hampton recorded a self-financed, cassette-only set of original songs in 1991, but focused largely on playing cover material to earn a living for his family.
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Tom Hampton began seeking out opportunities in the Philadelphia music scene and quickly made friends and established a reputation.
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In 1997, Tom Hampton released Our Mutual Angels on Longview records, with Steven Wellner producing.
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In 2001, after struggling to find an audience for his music, Tom Hampton went back to playing guitar for local cover bands for a time.
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Tom Hampton has toured with Bickhardt's band Idlewheel, which included Poco bassist Jack Sundrud.
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Tom Hampton has appeared occasionally with folksinger Tracy Grammer, and has played behind Craig Fuller of Pure Prairie League and Little Feat, and longtime personal guitar hero Paul Cotton of Poco at times.
10.
Tom Hampton was the last guitarist that played in Philadelphia legend Robert Hazard's touring band before Hazard died in 2008.
11.
Tom Hampton has backed and performed with Poco, Pure Prairie League, Eric Andersen, Jonathan Edwards, Jim Photoglo, Vonda Sheppard, Don Henry, Julie Gold, Daryle Singletary and many others.
12.
In 2011 alone, Tom Hampton figured prominently in album releases by JD Malone, Dan May, Craig Bickhardt, and the debut album by legendary Philadelphia radio DJ Michael Tearson, titled Stuff That Works.
13.
In late 2012, Tom Hampton appeared on lap and pedal steel guitar as a guest with the Marshall Tucker Band at the Newton Theater in Newton, NJ, beginning a series of shows with the band that have included appearances throughout the Northeast US in the time since.
14.
In 2014, after concluding his stint as a "semi-regular special guest" with Marshall Tucker, Tom Hampton relocated from Philadelphia to Nashville, occasionally touring with songwriter friends Rob Snyder, Channing Wilson, and Erik Dylan while returning to Philadelphia regularly for sessions and live appearances.
15.
In 2020, Tom Hampton was recruited to fill in on guitar for a series of live shows with Poco in February and March.