Friends of Tom
FOlk-BLues-COuntry
Bio
Liz Younger – lead vocals, things that shake and otherwise go bump in the night
Chris Younger – guitar, harmonica, vocals, mandolin
Tom Walz – guitar, harmonica, vocals
Jim Thompson - upright bass
Frank Z. - drums
Chris
Chris's infatuation with the guitar began in his early teens, inspired by the guitar slingers of the era, such as Alex Lifeson, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck to name a few.
After playing in a series of garage bands in high school, Chris eventually founded a successful cover band RoundTrip, and played the thriving regional bar circuit for many years. Eventually those pesky sub-conscious thoughts about getting a real job led to the proverbial fork in the road and Chris quit the band to persue more schooling and a career. With the demands of career and family limiting his time Chris spent spare moments playing acoustic guitar, and became enthralled with the alternating bass, finger style playing of Mississipi John Hurt, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, and Roy Book Binder. He also started dabbling in mandolin and harmonica.
With a renewed passion for acoustic music, Chris innocently asked his wife Liz to add some vocals to a song, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Chris and Liz duo kept it low key for several years, performing at parties and small events. Warming up at a festival for their friend, Tom, the headline act, the Emcee asked them their name. Taken by surprise since they had never formalized a real name, they blurted out, we're "Friends of Tom", and the name stuck.
Rob joined the line-up around the summer ’05, giving a fuller sound to the songs and allowing more versatility with arrangements. Soon after, FOT was booking regular gigs.
Liz
Liz grew up with the sounds of country music and bluegrass blaring through the home stereo by music-loving parents. Then her older brothers introduced her to the 70’s rock sound. Her musical education came full circle when she met up with fellow musician, Chris Younger whose influence led to the formation of Friends of Tom. These musical roots subtly reveal themselves in her song interpretations where an occasional twang can be heard mixed in with her powerful soulful vocals.
Liz is a classically trained vocalist, a student of several local vocal coaches, and is currently collaborating on original songs.
Tom
Tom Walz is "Pennsylvania's Favorite Blues Raconteur." Tom Walz is a highly accomplished guitar and harmonica player, and has become recognized for his emotive and expressive performances of music influenced by the black artists of the early to mid 20th century. He plays American music with all the spirit and passion intact. His talents have been recognized and utilized in opening sets for John Hammond, Ronnie Earl and Blues legend, Brownie McGhee.
Tom Walz is an entertainer. He is a modern-day vaudevillian adding a light-hearted stage presence and improvisational comedy involving the audience. Tom Walz is refreshing. He considers himself a "song miner" having developed sources to find some real rare gems and nuggets of music truly deserving of exposure.
Tom joined "Friends of Tom" in December 2009 after sitting in with the band for several years. Note that while Tom is in deed a "Friend of Tom", he in not the "Tom".
Frank
Frank Zelansy, aka Joggyn Smyler, was born in Perth Amboy New Jersey where his first music band at 12 years was called The OBJECTS, now Frank lives in Allentown PA. Frankzee "Joggyn Smyler" has recorded and released 3 music Cd's, they are GOOD TO SEE ME, MONEY CITY (Mahanoy City) and PERTH AMBOY. Joggyn Smyler Cds are available for purchase worldwide on the Internet. Frankzee has toured extensively thru Canada and the USA as Drummer and vocalist with the hit maker band The Classics IV. Frank zee (as friends know him) also appeared as Kid Trouzers (stage name) on the "Bedful of Metaphysicians" album which did receive positive reviews in 1986 in both Spin and Electronic Musician Magazine. Frank zee as a Drummer has performed from coast to coast USA and Canada in well over 500 "live" music shows, also in front of 30.000 people at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe AZ.. For his own original music cd's frankzee goes by the stage name of "Joggyn Smyler." 90% of the time he plays and sings everything on his music Cd's..Frankzee/joggyn smyler's music has been played on KSTM AZ, Newbrunswick N J. Radio, Nefarious Bovine Radio N J, Boston MS radio, KISMET radio 105 Goah India (Vijayan Almeida,) Radio Six International in Glasgow Scotland and their affiliate stations,WRKC Wilkes Barre PA, T-102 Pottsville PA, WMGK Lansford PA, ISON Australia, WFMU Hoboken N J, KUPD AZ, WVIA Wilkes Barre/Scranton PA, WDIY Bethlehem, WLVR Bethlehem PA, WMUH Allentown PA, The MT. Hazletown PA, WLTJ Cleveland OH to name a few! While living in Phoenix AZ Frank wrote and recorded a song entitled "Future Phoenix". the local entertainment papers did embrace the song well including a picture of frank zee/"Kid Trouzers" on the cover of a Phoenix publication entitled "TEEN TIMES" the local stations gave the song a good amount of airplay..Much to his surprize when he moved back east in PA to Schuylkill county a local radio station in Pottsville PA. Played his "Future Phoenix" tune 3 times per day for more than a month, He was very well received by the local papers there, even more so then in Phoenix AZ area.! Frank is also the Author of a small Metaphysical type, self-help book entitled "Intro To Infinity." Frank's song "Now & Forever" climbed all the way to number ONE for 4 days in mp3's love song category some years ago. Frank zee/Joggyn Smyler wrote and recorded a Hip new version of Petula Clarks "DOWNTOWN" which attracted the attention of the songs writer "Tony Hatch." Tony liked the new version and picked Joggyn Smylers" song called "Yes Love Has Grown" from his GOOD TO SEE ME cd to be played at their station and it placed in at 24 for the year 2004 at Radio Six International, a radio station based in Scotland. Frankzee, Joggyn Smyler"s song "No More Problems" placed in at number 3 for the song of the year 2007 at Radio Six International!!...very cool. Frank zee/Joggyn Smyler wrote and recorded a song called "Money City" (Mahanoy City) a song about the area and a small coal region town of Mahanoy City in Schuylkill county. The song has received good airplay at WMGH 105.5 FM in Tamaqua/Lansford PA area. Frankzee "JOGGYN SMYLER" presently plays Drums for "Notorious Groove" www.myspace.com/notoriousgrooveband and "Filet Of Sole." Frankzee/Joggyn Smyler says always remember "The Earth is floating and flying...therefore...SO ARE YOU!!! " FZ .."Refuse to measure time and be Timeless/Ageless" FZ "There is none who stands so tall than he or she who is ONE with ALL" FZ truly, Frank Joggyn Smyler. See www.myspace.com/joggynsmyler
Frank and "Friends of Tom" hooked up at jam party and the rest is history. Frank's drumming brings new life into the "Friends of Tom" sound and FOT has never sounded better.
Rob
Rob is from Easton PA and plays dobro slide, acoustic and electric guitar, and mandolin. He also adds sundry rhythm reverberations, known to bang on his metal dobro or stomp a tambourine with his foot.
Recognized as the “embellisher”, Rob adds that extra special touch that is needed to make a song better. A blues enthusiast at heart, Rob’s blues influence can be clearly heard in FOT’s repertoire. Rob is the founding co-host of the Sitgreaves’ coffeehouse, a monthly open-mic at the Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Easton. Rob also does double duty performing with the band Glass Roses.
Rob’s recording credentials includes the Glass Roses debut CD “Falling Wings”, and a guest appearance on the Daybreak CD “Lost Cave”, recorded deep within the Lost River Caverns in Hellertown PA.