Tom Spagnardi

Tom learned how to play the drums in second grade. After sitting in with the band at his uncle's wedding, he was hooked. He studied drums with Ron Spagnardi, founder of Modern Drummer Magazine, and switched to bass at age 15. He grew up on the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Simon and Garfunkel, but gained an interest in jazz in his late teens and early 20's, studying with Rufus Reid and Dizzy Gillespie's bass player, Chris White. After the college years, Tom returned to his more pop and rock roots, moving to Nashville to play with North Carolina's own Ben Folds, and then moving to New York City to tour with roots rock band Mr. Henry. He moved to Durham, North Carolina in 2004, primarily to buy an upright bass, and join his brothers and a couple of friends on a musical journey to discover the roots of America's acoustic music. Tom enjoys his role as the heartbeat of the band, and humbly requests that members of the band refrain from wearing short pants on stage. 


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