We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tommy Grills a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tommy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I first realized I wanted to become a musician when I was working at my father‘s nightclub in Rochester New York in the late 60s early 70s. I was exposed to some of the greatest folk jazz and blues musicians of the day as I worked in the kitchen making pizza it looked like so much fun being on the stage. I bought myself a cheap electric guitar And plugged it into my stereo system because I had oil fire and that’s how I began I am mainly self taught. And learned by jamming by with other musicians.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
When I first heard BB King play his hit single the thrill is gone that’s when I realize I wanted to play blues and began to to acquire records of blues musicians in order to learn how to play. I played my first gig in a black inner-city bar In Rochester New York that was the beginning of my career. 1977 I got to play with the James Cotton band for the first time and then later on in the early 80s I played some shows in James’ Band And formed my own bands throughout the 80s.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
To be one of the most rewarding aspects is being able to entertain a wide variety of audiences with the music that I had selected and felt that people could relate to and then actually being paid for that that was exciting
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
As a musician you have to have perseverance things do change in the music world different styles of music Come in and out of popularity you have to be able to adjust in other words play different genres of music in order to remain relevant.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tommy-Grills-Band-508194199578752/
- Other: Tommygrills.hearnow.com