Tom Rock Bio

Tom Rock Jr, started when he was four or five years old, on his grandfather’s farm, when he picked up an old guitar and naturally started to play it. His grandfather showed him a Johnny Cash “riff” and from there he was addicted to that country guitar and music sound. He also had an interest in that Honky Tonk, kinda New Orleans, piano playing style that he started practicing when he was a young boy. He heard it on Fats Domino and Elvis songs and some old Rock n Roll stuff like Jerry Lee

This was his musical foundation and it led him to learn other instruments and other musical styles; but it was always that early influence in Country and early Rock n Roll music, that kept it interesting and fun for him. As a youngster ; Tom Rock Jr. used to accompany his father ( Tom Sr. ), on piano as his father sang and entertained. He says ," my dad always encouraged me and my music at an early age ."

He used to love watching those country music singer TV shows; like the Glen Campbell show, Johnny Cash show, Barbara Mandrell and even Hee-Haw. They had amazing players and singers that he always strived to be like. Tom Rock Jr. said "he will never forget, as a boy, driving around with his grandfather, listening to Country Music; when that song came on; 'Behind Closed Doors', and the singer sings that part “And She Makes Me Feel Like I’m a Man, " it's that voice and that passion! Boy; that’s the way I wanted to sing.”
Of course, growing up in South Jersey was not at all a country mecca. So he first started getting involved with local rock cover bands. His first band, he says;" we jammed on 'Freebird' for 2 hours". The Rock cover bands ended for him after High School, and he started writing original music. He spent a couple of summers in the Carolina Mountains when he was 17 and 18, and was turned on to Bluegrass Music. Tom Rock Jr. fell in love with the vocal harmonies and pick’in; “Rocky Top Tennessee” is still a favorite of his.

His major influences of that time were Hank Jr. (“Country Boy Can Survive”), The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd; and still are to this day. He knew that he couldn’t stay in South Jersey for the rest of his life, so his journey led him to Los Angeles; to start fresh. Tom Rock Jr. encountered many musical opportunities; from Hip Hop to Christian Metal to Rock & Blues to Gospel. Confused and frustrated as an artist; he stopped performing for a bit to develop his writing and singing craft.

Wavering between different musical styles; Country Music seemed so far away, until Tom Rock Jr. met a girl who grew up on Country Music, like him; and she shared with him some of her lyrics. They started writing together, and when she asked if he could sing one of the songs they were writing, with a bit more of a country flavor, he did, and hasn't stopped since. She is now his wife and writing partner in their songs. His musical journey has come full circle, right back to where he started, and he couldn’t be happier; Real Songs, Real Singing, Real Playing. - Tom Rock Jr. says "THANK YOU COUNTRY MUSIC."