Tom Bukovac

Last updated

Tom Bukovac
Tom Bukovac- Wacken Open Air 2022 01.jpg
Tom Bukovac at Wacken Open Air with Ann Wilson 2022
Background information
Born (1968-12-20) December 20, 1968 (age 55)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres Rock, Country
Occupations
  • Musician
  • producer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1980s–present
Spouse
(m. 2010;div. 2020)
Website https://thesessionman.com/

Tom Bukovac (born December 20, 1968) is an American session musician and producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential modern session guitarists. He is a five-time winner of the Session Guitarist of the Year award, in addition to being awarded the Academy Of Country Music guitar player of the year award four times.

Contents

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in nearby Willowick, Ohio. He has been a Nashville-based musician since 1992. [1] He previously owned 2nd Gear, a used music consignment shop in South Nashville. [2] In addition to releasing three instrumental studio albums, he holds several credits as a producer and songwriter. The Duesenberg "Session Man" guitar was launched in his honor in 2021.

Career

Bukovac began playing guitar at age eight, and performed his first shows at age thirteen at his widowed mother's bar, The Surfside Lounge, in Eastlake, Ohio. He moved to Nashville in 1992 to pursue a career as a guitarist. [1]

Bukovac has played on over 1200 albums, [1] including projects by Dan Auerbach and The Black Keys, Hermanos Gutierrez, Glen Campbell, Gwen Stefani, Kid Rock, Morgan Wallen, Ann Wilson, The Struts, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, John Oates, Joan Osborne, Vince Gill, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Hank Williams Jr., Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Richard Marx, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Florida Georgia Line, Lionel Richie, among many others. [3]

Bukovac has toured with Ann Wilson (2022 - Fierce Bliss Tour), Joe Walsh (2017) – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 40th Anniversary Tour [4] ); Vince Gill (2016); John Fogerty; Faith Hill; Trigger Hippy; Wynonna Judd; Tanya Tucker, and others. [5] Bukovac is currently a member of The Jim Irsay band.


Solo Work

In 2014, Bukovac produced Trigger Hippy's self-titled album, which was released by Rounder Records. Featured on this album alongside Bukovac are Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman (of Black Crowes) and Nick Govrik. [6]

In 2021, Bukovac released his first solo album, Plexi Soul, an instrumental record featuring his trademark exquisite guitar playing, produced by Chris McHugh and recorded and engineered and mixed by Shannon Forrest @ REELRECORDING1

In addition, Bukovac released the Trip The Witch instrumental record in 2021, along with Dean Deleo from STP. The record includes a track called Saturn We Miss You, with a vocal performance by Jon Anderson of Yes.

On May 1st 2024, Tom and fellow Nashville guitarist Guthrie Trapp released In Stereo, recorded (at least in part) at East Nashville's Cabin Studios. Brandon Bell and Jacob Lowery played bass, and with Dorian “Wookie” Crozier on drums. While there are some bits of atmospheric synth, the album—-much like Plexi Soul—-consists of guitar-based instrumentals. The song ‘On The Spectrum’ features Jordan Perlson on drums and Philip Townes contributed Fender Rhodes piano. Tim Lauer played keys on ‘Formant Trajectories’ with Danny Dugmore contributing slide guitar to ‘The Black Cloud’. At Tom’s insistence, Nick Govrik helped sequence the album’s songs.


Personal life

In 2010 Bukovac married songwriter/artist Sarah Buxton; they have two children. [1]

Bukovac and Buxton decided to end their marriage in 2020. Rumor has it that Buxton later had a short-lived affair with one of Bukovac's former bandmates from Trigger Hippy.

In March of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bukovac started the YouTube video series Homeskoolin'; the videos were recorded with an iPhone in his garage.

Awards and nominations

Music Row Magazine Awards [7]

YearCategoryResult
2005Session Guitarist of the YearWinner
2006Session Guitarist of the YearWinner
2007Session Guitarist of the YearWinner
2008Session Guitarist of the YearWinner
2009Session Guitarist of the YearWinner

Academy of Country Music Awards [8]

YearCategoryResult
2004Guitar Player of the YearNominee
2005Top Guitar Player of the YearNominee
2006Guitar Player of the YearNominee
2007Top Guitarist of the YearNominee
2008Top Guitarist of the YearWinner
2010Guitarist of the YearWinner
2012Guitarist of the YearNominee
2014Guitar Player of the YearNominee
2016Guitarist of the YearWinner
2021Guitarist of the YearWinner

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Osborne</span> American musician (born 1962)

Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer, songwriter, and interpreter of music, having recorded and performed in various popular American musical genres including rock, pop, soul, R&B, blues, and country. She is best known for her recording of the Eric Bazilian-penned song "One of Us" from her debut album, Relish (1995). Both the single and the album became worldwide hits and garnered a combined seven Grammy Award nominations. Osborne has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Gill</span> American musician (born 1957)

Vincent Grant Gill is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He began in a number of local bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention as lead singer of the soft rock band Pure Prairie League. Gill sang lead on their hit single "Let Me Love You Tonight" in addition to writing several songs of theirs. After leaving Pure Prairie League, Gill briefly played guitar in Rodney Crowell's backing band the Cherry Bombs before beginning a solo career in country music in 1984. Gill recorded for RCA Records Nashville from then until 1988 with minimal success. A year later he signed with MCA Nashville, and he has recorded for this label ever since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Wariner</span> American country musician

Steven Noel Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late 1970s. He has released eighteen studio albums and over fifty singles for several different record labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audley Freed</span> Musical artist

Audley Freed is a guitarist from Burgaw, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Franklin (musician)</span> American musician

Paul V. Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Vince Gill, Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed and Dire Straits. Paul is currently touring with Chris Stapleton. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville, playing on more than 500 albums. He has been named by the Academy of Country Music as Best Steel Guitarist on several occasions. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. With thirty, Franklin is the most nominated person in CMA history and is notable for having been nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musician of the Year twenty nine times but has yet to win.

Sarah Jane Buxton is an American country music singer formerly signed to the independent Lyric Street Records. Between 2006 and 2008, she issued three singles from an extended play titled Almost My Record, in addition to co-writing her song "Stupid Boy", which was later recorded by Keith Urban. She released her self-titled debut album in early 2010, led off by the Top 25 single "Outside My Window," shortly before Lyric Street Records closed.

Brent Mason is an American country music guitarist, songwriter and session musician.

<i>These Days</i> (Vince Gill album) 2006 studio album by Vince Gill

These Days is the eleventh studio album and the first box set by American country music artist Vince Gill. Consisting of 43 original songs spanning four discs, the album displays the range of Gill’s lyrical and musical styles, ranging from traditional country and bluegrass to jazz and rock. The album was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and won Best Country Album. In 2012, the album was number 10 on People Magazine's "Top 10 Best Albums of the Century ". It is also ranked #9 on Country Universe's "The 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade."

Chris Rodriguez is an American guitarist, who got his big break in contemporary Christian music, then moving on to play for various secular artists. He is also a singer/songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grady Martin</span> American musician (1929–2001)

Thomas Grady Martin was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Skaggs</span> American musician, producer, and composer

Rickie Lee Skaggs, known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, mandocaster, and banjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owsley (musician)</span> American musician (1966–2010)

William Reese Owsley III, known professionally as Owsley, was an American singer and songwriter. His two solo albums won critical acclaim, and his debut album was nominated for a Grammy Award, as was the song "Threaten Me With Heaven". Owsley was also a record producer, a recording engineer, and the guitarist in Amy Grant's touring band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Time Jumpers</span> Musical group

The Time Jumpers is a Western swing band formed in 1998 by a group of Nashville studio musicians who enjoyed jamming together. Country star Vince Gill was a member of the group between 2010 and 2020. The 11–member group started playing occasional local gigs until they agreed to take a regular slot playing at the Station Inn, a venerable Nashville bluegrass venue. They later moved to a larger venue, Nashville's "3rd & Lindsley", and were called by Tennessean writer Juli Thanki, "One of the hottest shows in town". Some of their guest artists on the weekly live show have included Joe Walsh, Robert Plant, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt, Reba McEntire, Jimmy Buffett, Kings of Leon, and Toby Keith. Amy Grant said, "You can't hear that caliber of musicians every Monday night for a cover charge in any town in America except here". The group rarely travels, but in 2010 they performed at New York's Lincoln Center. In 2007, they recorded a live album entitled Jumpin' Time and in 2012 recorded The Time Jumpers. At the 2017 Grammy Awards the group won "Best American Roots Song" for Vince Gill's composition "Kid Sister".

<i>Water & Bridges</i> 2006 studio album by Kenny Rogers

Water & Bridges is the twenty-sixth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. It was released on March 21, 2006 via Capitol Records Nashville. The album have three singles: "I Can't Unlove You," "The Last Ten Years (Superman)" and "Calling Me," all of which charted on Hot Country Songs and peaked at number 17, 56, and 53 respectively.

Trigger Hippy is an American rock band composed of former Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, bassist Nick Govrik, guitarist/singer Ed Jurdi, and singer Amber Woodhouse.

<i>Guitar Slinger</i> (Vince Gill album) 2011 studio album by Vince Gill

Guitar Slinger is the twelfth studio album by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released on October 25, 2011 via MCA Nashville. A deluxe edition was also released with three bonus tracks.

John Barlow Jarvis is an American songwriter, composer, session pianist and recording artist. Before moving to Lake Tahoe in 2014, he had lived in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1982.

<i>Down to My Last Bad Habit</i> 2016 studio album by Vince Gill

Down to My Last Bad Habit is the fourteenth studio album by American country music singer Vince Gill. The album was released on February 12, 2016, by MCA Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff White (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

Jeff White is an American bluegrass guitarist/mandolinist, songwriter, record producer and sound mixer. Jeff White has performed and produced albums with many artists including: Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Tim O'Brien, The Travelin' McCourys, Michael Cleveland and The Earls Of Leicester. White won the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, for Best Bluegrass Album with The Earls of Leicester. One of Jeff's key mentors is award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland. Jeff and Michael have earned four International Bluegrass Music Awards for Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year. Jeff produced several of Michael Cleveland's albums. Jeff has toured with banjo picking Earl Scruggs and Louise Scruggs. Jeff White has produced and released three solo albums: in 1996 The White Album, in 1999 The Broken Road and in 2016 Right Beside You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JayDee Maness</span> American musician (born 1945)

JayDee Maness is an American pedal steel guitarist who is a veteran session musician in Los Angeles. He is known for his work with Gram Parsons, the Byrds, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Ray Stevens, Vince Gill, and the Desert Rose Band. Maness received The Academy of Country Music's "Steel Guitarist of the Year" award 18 times and was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wardlaw, Matt. "Northeast Ohio Native Tom Bukovac Excited to Return to Town with Country Star Vince Gill" . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  2. Smith, Desmond. (November 11, 2016). 2nd Gear Used Music Consignment. Above the Fold. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  3. "Tom Bukovac | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  4. "Legendary Joe Walsh Is Back Out on the Road Today With Tour Dates Throughout Spring and Summer". ymlp.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  5. Guitar, Vintage (September 1, 2005). "September 2005" . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  6. "Rounder Records Signs Trigger Hippy". July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  7. "Past Musician Award Winners". May 8, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  8. LTD., BubbleUp. "winners". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved June 27, 2016.