Tom Lucas is a US bluegrass musician and singer-songwriter from the United States, associated with The Earl Brothers. He works as a self-taught pianist and songwriter and says his music and lyrics are rooted in the Finger Lakes region of central and western New York State.

Early releases

Lucas records under his own name and first releases an original vinyl album called Tom Lucas Red Letter Day. He follows it with Tom Lucas Lifeboats five years later. He describes both as his own songs and says the first release is a private pressing of 500 copies.

Writing and style

Alongside music, Lucas writes fiction and identifies himself as a poet. He says he begins with the intention of being a novelist and writes two short novels, War Dreams and Detour. He also refers to having many musicians in his family background.

Recording history

Lucas says an early audition for Columbia takes place in Manhattan, with Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman listening. He rejects a proposed arrangement that would keep him in New York City, reduce his band from eight musicians, and place him with studio players instead.

He later says his first two albums are digitally re-mastered, resequenced, and issued with complete lyrics through New Fate Productions and CDBaby. He also refers to working with collaborators on a new album of previously unheard songs at Grand Staff Studio in the Finger Lakes.

Public attention

Lucas says his recordings circulate in Europe through Radioactiverecords and Phantom Distribution, and that a review in SPIN helps draw attention to his work. He presents this as part of a wider story of being overlooked before later discovery.