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Welcome to Tom Breiding's Website!

Tom is a songwriter/recording artist residing in Pittsburgh, Pa. Here you can read about Tom's history as a songwriter, his career as an artist, and his role as guitar player for Bill Toms and Hard Rain. Find out where Tom is playing, order CD's and other merchandise, read some of the press regarding past releases and performances, or drop a line on the guestbook. Click Here to Visit Tom's Order page to view and purchase Tom's cds and other merchandise.




About.com Folk Guide (New York Times Company) by Kim Ruehl

The Unbroken Circle receives 5 out of 5 stars.

"Breiding is a fantastic songwriter, and an even more gifted performer...This album doesn't just serve as a remarkable tribute to the history and labor issues, it also does an exquisite job of telling the people's history of the West Virginia coalfields."

"There have been numerous collections released through the years of songs and recordings paying tribute to, and telling the stories of coal miners, their families, and their work. This collection features a couple of traditional songs about coal mining, but mostly Breiding did a great job writing his own collection..."

Click here to view the full story
  

Sing Out! Magazine: "I suspect some of these songs will slip into the repertoire of others and make their way into the tradition. In an age of too many love songs, it's a joy to hear a talented artist focus on an aspect of America often neglected."


Hey Folks,

This is an exciting time at AmeriSon Productions! I have just accepted a two-year tenure as a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Speaker through the PA Humanities Council. My program Steeltown, The Coalfields, and The Unbroken Circle, will be featured in the PHC's catalog to be distributed to non-profit organizations throughout Pennsylvania. My program was also selected to be one of the PHC's featured programs for a television series.

A new AmeriSon video is in the planning stages and American Son is currently recording tracks for a new album to be released early in 2010 so intensive touring is sure to follow. Immediate tour plans include another tour of Italy this December with my bandmates from Bill Toms and Hard Rain to support our live album recorded at Moondogs in Blawnox, PA this summer. Visit http://www.billtoms.com for more info on that.

Look for a great new release on AmeriSon Records this fall from The Weathered Road. A New Road Home, their debut CD recorded at AmeriSon Studio, contains a fantastic selection of songs and some great performances from this fantastic, young "Ameri-Celtic Newgrass" band. Their web-site is http://www.myspace.com/theweatheredroad

Finally, the AmeriSon Ballroom Folk Series at Cefalo's Nightclub in Carnegie will go international next spring when I host Sarah McQuaid, a fantastic world-renowned artist from England. Visit http://www.sarahmcquaid.com for more information about her.

Hope you can find the time to be involved with some of these great ventures. Your sponsorship, support, devotion, kindness, and love keeps me going...remember...it's always time to roll...

Kindest Regards,
Tom

  Tom Breiding, Rick Malis, Calliope School graduates, and guest artists release "When We Shine: 15 Songs About Pittsburgh"

A Calliope Songwriting Project funded by an Allegheny Regional Asset District Renaissance Grant celebrating Pittsburgh's 250th Anniversary

When we shine in this city, we really do shine - whether it’s helping our country to win a war with manpower and steel, inventing the airbrake, curing polio or winning a sports championship. When the chips are down, this city always seems to rise to the challenge and brings out the best qualities that make Pittsburghers a unique, hardworking, humble, passionate, brilliant and compassionate people.

This striking Clyde Hare cover photo shot in 1952 seems to be an apt portrait of a city that turns 250 years old this year. In the foreground we can still see and embrace the artifacts of our mighty industrial past. In the horizon we see a glimpse of our city today and in the shining sky the promise of our future.


AmeriSon Records releases on the Charts:

Chart Info for Tom's AmeriSon Records Release The Unbroken Circle:
The Unbroken Circle reached #55 on the Americana Radio Charts spending more than 12 weeks in the top 100 and generating more than 1100 reported spins nationwide. The album also climbed all the way to #18 on the Roots Music Review Folk Chart.

Dirty Linen Magazine: "It is the strength of the songwriting on this CD that makes the biggest impression...The House We Called Home is likely to become a new folk standard."

Bluegrass Unlimited: "The Unbroken Circle is recommended listening for anyone interested in the struggles of the coal mining community."

David Higgs, Host of the syndicated Bluegrass Breakdown on Nashville Public Radio: "I don't know whatever happened to the concept CD, but with "The Unbroken Circle," Breiding has brought it back into prominence with a vengeance."

New Additions to the AmeriSon Team
Radio Promotion: Lindsay Reid/Lindsay Reid Productions/Durham, NC lreid003@nc.rr.com


Tim O'Brien, Grammy Award Winning Singer-Songwriter: Tom Breiding's bluegrass flavored CD "The Unbroken Circle" provides a much needed look at the story of the West Virginia Coalfields. Like the best historical fiction, these true stories in song provide easy access to a culture whose trials and tribulations are too often ignored.

Tom T. Hall, "The Storyteller," Country Music Legend: Shades of Woody Guthrie - These recordings contribute to the historical understanding of this much misunderstood region.

Ron Olesko, Producer/Host WFDU's Traditions: Tom Breiding serves up a slice of America's heart and soul on his latest project "The Unbroken Circle." Tom is a gifted storyteller who has crafted a monumental set of songs, each one a singular epic that fits together to tell an important story. This is one CD that will stick with you.

Tom Breiding releases The Unbroken Circle

The Unbroken Circle, a collection of songs that document events in the coalfields of West Virginia from the early 1900's, was released in the fall of 2007. Compementing an impressive body of work released by Breiding over the past fifteen years, this record represents a culmination of his evolved voice as a roots rock balladeer and a blue-collar statesman...Click here to read more about this new release!!!

Tom Breiding releases Time to Roll

Message from Tom - "This record is so special to me. It is my first commercial production venture, my first record recorded entirely with one band (all great players and old friends, by the way), and the first record I have released with a real opportunity to support with live shows...and do we ever have some live shows lined up. Get on board...Time to Roll!"


Latest Updates and News: The Unbroken Circle, Tom's new release

Radio

These stations have played tracks for this record before it's official release date:
  • WNCW Spindale, NC
  • WXPN Philadelphia, PA
  • WYEP Pittsburgh, PA
  • WWVA Wheeling, WV
  • WFDU Teaneck, NJ
  • WBZC Burlington County, NJ
  • XM 15 "The Village"
  • WFMT Chicago, IL
  • WJFF Youngsville, NY
  • WAER Syracuse, NY
  • WNJR Washington, PA
  • KDKA Pittsburgh, PA
  • WRCT and four affiliates covering Western Pennsylvania region

Current Distribution

  • The Record Depot: Roanoke, VA: Virginia and Carolina Region

Tour Information

  • Currently scheduling festivals and clubs throughout the entire Northeast. Target areas for expanded tour include the Carolinas, Upper Midwest (Chicago, Madison WI area) and California.

 

Tom Breiding's Railroad Town - School Assembly Programs and Songwriting Workshops



Singer-songwriter Tom Breiding's unique musical stories of life in the steel mills and coal towns of West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania span the last century. With his guitar, banjo, and harmonica accompaniment, Tom captivates students while they learn about the steel and coal industries, early labor disputes, and various American musical genres. A former English teacher, Tom guides students in understanding the fundamentals of good writing and then identifies those elements in his original ballads and blue collar anthems. Click here for more information.

Photo Gallery Now Live!!!


Check out Tom's new photo gallery!!! Photos by Kevin Stiffler are now up and live in the gallery. Click here to view! You can post your comments and questions about any photos in the gallery.

If you have any photos from Tom's concerts that you'd like to share, please email them to Nick Yankanich, and I'll post them on the site. Enjoy!


Get Tom Breiding merchandise from TBM and CafePress.com !!!

To view the merchandice which is currently available go to Tom Breiding Merchandise .

More products will available soon, currently Tom Breiding T-shirts, Coffee Mugs, and Mouse Pads are available !!!


We hope you enjoy Tom's website. If you have any questions or problems with the website or if you would like additional information about Tom Breiding send an email to the Webmaster , or email Tom directly. You can also use our Electronic Contact Form.
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