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TOM PRASADA-RAO + Bio + Journal + Discography + Favorites + Moments + Links + Quotes |
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Be sure to check out Tom's myspace page!! Tom is one of the most oustanding musicians I have ever met. He has not only inspired me with his playing, but my own approach to music has changed after listening to him. —Ed King, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tom Prasada-Rao / BIO Tom Prasada-Rao teaches songwriting, produces records, and plays live every weekend as a Solo Artist and with The Dreamsicles. Award Winning Songs TPR has won numerous awards - among them Kerrvilles' New Folk and 14 Wammies including Songwriter of the Year. His songs have been recorded by David Wilcox, Randy Travis, actor Ronny Cox, Christian artist Bob Bennett, and world music tabla master Broto Roy. Powerful Recordings In addition to his solo CDs and The Dreamsicles, Tom has produced for Rachel Bissex, The Sherpas, Cary Cooper, Michael Bowers, and Annie Wenz. Most recently he produced Cary Coopers' "Yellow" which charted at #7 in Oct 05, and "Remembering Rachel" which raised over $50,000 for the children of the late Rachel Bissex and included Dar Williams, The Kennedys, Groovelily, Patty Larkin, and Catie Curtis. Experienced Teacher Tom teaches every summer at the University of Virginias' Young Writers' Workshops, and at song camps nationwide. At Young Writers he takes young high school poets and fiction writers and turns them into songwriters complete with a CD of their own song when they leave. He specializes in teaching novice songwriters, as well as advanced guitar classes and song editing techniques. A virtual world music ensemble rolled into one guy. His voice weaves incantations, and the guitar is a magic wand in the hands of this extraordinary musician —The Takoma Park Folk Festival Amazing Performer In performance Toms' contemporaries acknowledge him as the groovemiester. He plays acoustic guitar like it's a band in a box, along with piano, violin, and sitar. His style varies between Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, and Ravi Shankar. Tom Prasada-Rao is not a screamer -- he gets his point across with soaring melodies, engaging stories, poetry, and undulating spirituality. Details: Born: in Ethiopia of Indian parents Educated: in Maryland, England, and India Albums: 5 Solo CDs, 2 Group CDs, over 25,000 copies sold Awards: ---1993 Kerrville New Folk Winner ---------------Falcon Ridge Most Wanted ----------------WAMA Songwriter of the Year -----------------Kerrville Indie Album of the Year Home: Dallas,TX (formerly Takoma Park, MD) Sign: Aries Religion: Rumi "One of the great things about Tom Prasada-Rao's live appearances is that ya never know who will turn up to play (or sing) with him. During his set in the first half he called his sister Patti, and Betsy Dake up to join him on vocals as well as Walter Parks of The Nudes to play some guitar parts. Don't know how he does it but Tom always manages to find some of the finest singers around and Patti and Betsy were just amazing, adding soulful harmonies to Falling Star, and Sleeping Beauty and Ella's Angel and a wonderful new song that I don't remember hearing before. Wish I knew the name. From the moment Tom starting singing he held everyone's attention. There is someting truly charming and gentle about this man and his songs, and universal in a way that is original and emotionally powerful without ever dipping into excess. The audience immediatly connected with him. And can this guy play a guitar? They don't call him "the groove-meister" for nothin. During his set he noted that after a couple of sad songs he should play one to lighten the mood. "But let's face it, I'm a folk singer". With that he launched into "Falling Star", my own personal favorite, and one of the best songs about one-way love I have ever heard. I was spellbound." -- Jeff Nuttle, The Avalon Theater, Easton, MD Interview with Pierce Pettis taped October 22 99 upstairs of Bodles' Opera House in Chester, New York before his performance there that night: A: If you were going to put together a festival of songwiters, I'd love to know who you'd want there. P: Boy, that is a tough question, because I'll start naming names I'm gonna leave people... A: I realize that... P: You mentioned Ellis and John and those are certainly two contenders. I love Dana Cooper. I like Sally Barris - there are just a lot of great writers. Too many to mention. I love Tom Kimmell and Tom Prasada-Rao I think is one of the most brilliant writers ever and boy... I don't know... A: Not that you are leaving people out because you don't like them, I just wanted to hear some names from you. P: It is cuz I can't remember them right at this moment. A: But that is helpful, just to know. While I am airing this I will just cut into a Tom...song...say his last name I never say that right. P: (quickly) Pass ah duh rah A: (copying) Pass ah duh rah P: Tom Prasada-Rao. 4. Tom PrasadaRao - Sleeping Beauty / Hear You Laughing P: If you have to stop and think about Tom's name you can't say it A: Pass ah duh rah P: You have to just sort of go with it. Tom Prasada-Rao. Tom will hear this and he'll hurt me probably. (laughter dies) http://www.wjffradio.org/FolkPlus/interviews/PPettis.html |
