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Tom Ball
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Tom Ball began playing guitar at the age of eleven and took up harmonica three years later. Chicago-style blues bands provided the milieu for his talents throughout the '60s. He spent much of the '70s abroad before settling in Santa Barbara, CA, in 1978.  A noted blues historian, he has written countless articles on the music for various publications, and has taught harmonica at the university level.  In addition to working with Kenny Sultan, Tom has performed and sung on numerous TV and film projects, appeared as a sideman on over 50 releases, and written three instructional books for Centerstream/Hal Leonard.  

Tom and Kenny have been bringing their unique blend of guitar and harmonica blues, rags and good time music to widely diverse audiences for more than two decades. Their live performances include concerts, clubs and festivals all over the world, and they were the only musical act in America to play all four venues of the 1984 Olympic Games.

Together and separately they have worked on dozens of film scores, TV soundtracks, commercials and sessions. They've appeared on television internationally, were featured on the "Levi's 501 Blues" commercials, have played for audiences of 300 million via Voice of America and are frequent guests of National Public Radio. Their six duo albums have garnered much critical acclaim throughout the world, and their music from the film "Over The Edge" won the duo the prestigious Telly Award in 1994.

At home wherever they go, Tom and Kenny fit in at blues, folk, bluegrass and jazz festivals, and their extensive teaching backgrounds make them a natural choice for college campuses or venues which feature workshops. Because their music is a blend of American roots styles, they are regulars overseas, drawing rave reviews wherever they go.

Tom and Kenny are equally at home as a headliner or as an opening act, and over the years they have shared the stage with some of the very best, including the likes of Luther Allison, The Allman Brothers, The Beach Boys, Norman Blake, Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Blues Brothers, David Bromberg, Gatemouth Brown, Jackson Browne, Ray Charles, Clifton Chenier, Ry Cooder, Albert Collins, Elvis Costello, James Cotton, Robert Cray, Christopher Cross, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Freddy Fender, Vince Gill, Nancy Griffith, David Grisman, John Hammond, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Jeff Healy, Don Henley, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Etta James, Chaka Khan, Albert King, B.B. King, Leo Kottke, Alison Krauss, Fela Kuti, David Lindley, Living Color, Kenny Loggins, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Kathy Mattea, John Mayall, Michael McDonald, Brownie McGhee, Jim Messina, Bill Monroe, Van Morrison, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Neville Brothers, Newgrass Revival, Randy Newman, Johnny Otis, Queen Ida, Bonnie Raitt, Tony Rice, Seldom Scene, Paul Simon, Simple Minds, Michelle Shocked, Ricky Skaggs, Koko Taylor, George Thorogood, Toto, Big Joe Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Doc & Merle Watson, Junior Wells, and many, many more...