Bluesman Tom Malafarina

“Bluesman Tom” Malafarina was born in Ashland, Pennsylvania in the heart of the “Hard Coal” region. He grew up in this hard working, hard drinking blue-collar community amid pitifully low income levels and frighteningly high unemployment rates. From this humble, constantly struggling community, with its strong ethnic bonds, Tom learned the importance of hard work, honesty, determination and most importantly, the need for keeping a good sense of humor about life in general.

In 1967 at the age of twelve Tom began his life-long love of music. Tom spent countless hours practicing his guitar until it became an extension of his soul. Tom never sought to be a “lead guitarist” or “guitar soloist” but concentrated on rhythm and bass guitar. He enjoyed strumming and picking and combining notes to form chords and riffs that allowed him to express his emotions through the songs he wrote.

During the 1970's Tom play in a variety of local bands of all types. It was at this time that he first became familiar with the blues through some of the well-known British Blues Artists of the time like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck.

At the age of 22 Tom decided to take a break from performing for a short while. Little did he know that this vacation would last for about TWENTY THREE YEARS!

During the time when he was “retired”, Tom continued to play guitar at home and jam with other musicians whenever he could and his love for the blues grew, as did his desire to compose and perform blues songs.

At the turn of the 21st century, with the onset of the new millennium, Tom came out of retirement with a mission to focus all of his musical talents as a singer/songwriter in one direction, the BLUES. Check out the Bluesman Tom web site at. (www.TomMalafarina.com/BMT.html) . As you will see, the Bluesman is making up for lost time with a vengeance. His music can be heard on a wide variety of both national and international radio stations including terrestrial, internet, public and college stations.

I play live with a number of different blues bands in the Reading PA area.

All of the great blues artists from the early 20th century to current artists.

Fender precision deluxe jazz base. Carvin bolt on strat. Harke bass head with Ampeg cabinets.

I love to write blues music and would love to have others record my stuff.