We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Crazy Tomes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Crazy Tomes thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been a professional musician since I was 18, and I’ve been working in music full-time since I was 24—about 16 years now. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to make a living doing what I love, and I feel truly blessed. That being said, it didn’t come without a lot of dedication, hard work, and some tough decisions along the way. Success didn’t happen overnight.

Moving to LA at 22 was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Being active in LA gave me the opportunity to get noticed by and connect with some very influential people in the business. After a couple of years of networking and working the circuit, I was booking enough gigs to pursue this career full-time.

Nothing is ever stable in this industry. The key to longevity lies in consistently building new connections, exploring fresh opportunities, starting new projects, and collaborating with different people of different backgrounds. It’s crucial never to put all your eggs in one basket. It’s very important to be a versatile and adaptable player.

Looking back, if I had embraced that mindset earlier in my career—focusing on diversifying rather than pouring all my energy into one thing at a time—I believe I could’ve accelerated my journey to becoming a successful musician.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I entered the music business because it has been my dream since childhood—to sing and play guitar on stage. Ever since I discovered Elvis and The Beatles at the age of 9, I knew this was what I wanted to do for a living. I started playing piano at a young age and picked up the guitar when I was 12. By high school, I was already performing with the school jazz band, and in college, I began gigging as a duo with my best friend. Eventually, we formed a band and moved to Los Angeles after I graduated.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of playing in numerous bands, including some well-known acts that have toured nationally, internationally, and locally. I spent over a decade performing and working with 1960s music legends The Chambers Brothers (famous for ‘Time Has Come Today’) and the late blues master Guitar Shorty. In recent years, I’ve been touring and recording with the legendary singer-songwriter Swamp Dogg, The Red Elvises, and many other talented artists—including leading my own band.

To date, I have released two solo albums, *The Imaginary World of Crazy Tomes* and *Crazy On The Island*, both of which are available on all major streaming platforms.

I believe some of my strongest qualities as a musician and artist are my versatility, refined taste, exceptional musical memory, unique sound, and stage presence. These are the traits that set me apart. I bring a unique voice and guitar style to my music, backed by an extensive knowledge of diverse genres such as blues, rock, jazz, funk, country, rockabilly, reggae, and—much to my fiancé’s delight—even pop! I can perform and sing thousands of classic songs across many genres. I know how to read a crowd, put on an engaging show, and connect musically with the artists and musicians I collaborate with.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best way for society to support performing artists is by attending local shows more frequently, purchasing merchandise at concerts, or simply just spreading the word!

I dream of a day when society truly values musicians as a legitimate and respected career, and where all musicians and performers can earn a living wage. I also firmly believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn music in public schools. While not everyone will become the next Mozart, learning music is an invaluable skill that enhances both physical and mental well-being.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the positive impact I make on my listeners. If my performance or music brightens someone’s day or brings smiles to people’s faces, that’s the greatest reward for me. This is the essence of why we, as artists, do what we do—to bring happiness to others. It’s so important to keep that in mind!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crazytomes.com
• Instagram: @crazy_tomes
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=571840804
• Youtube: @CrazyTomesFanClub
• Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/crazytomes

Image Credits

Amanda Allen
Joseph Llorens
Van Brianne