Tom Adams
Best known for
Banjo
Tom Adams is one of the most-recorded bluegrass banjo players of his generation, a three-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year whose career spans the Johnson Mountain Boys, Lynn Morris Band, Blue Highway, and a long list of session and sideman credits before focal dystonia in his right hand pushed him to pivot to guitar and lead vocals in the early 2000s.
- Born November 7, 1958 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; started playing in 1969 with his family group, the Adams Brothers and Dad.
- Joined Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys in 1983 on banjo; moved to the Johnson Mountain Boys in 1986, where he stayed nearly a decade.
- Played with the Lynn Morris Band (1988–1991), Blue Highway (1998), Rhonda Vincent & the Rage (2000), Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek (2001), and the Dudley Connell-led Seneca Rocks (2006).
- Released the leader records Right Hand Man (Rounder, 1990) and Adams County Banjo (Rounder Select, 2001), the latter with Bryan Sutton, Marshall Wilborn, Ron Stewart, and Rob Ickes.
- Won IBMA Banjo Player of the Year three times: 1992, 1993, and 2002.
- After developing focal dystonia in his right hand around 2002, transitioned from banjo to guitar and lead vocals; played guitar with Bill Emerson's Sweet Dixie (2008) and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (2009–2011).
- Won IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year (2004) for Live at the Ragged Edge with Michael Cleveland and the Collaborative Recording of the Year (2007) for Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
- Currently plays in Springfield Exit and teaches banjo full-time online.
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The Johnson Mountain BoysPlayed on recordings with The Johnson Mountain Boys
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James KingPlayed on recordings with James King
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The Lynn Morris BandPlayed on recordings with The Lynn Morris Band
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Michael ClevelandPlayed on recordings with Michael Cleveland
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Bill Emerson and Sweet DixiePlayed on recordings with Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie
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Rhonda VincentPlayed on recordings with Rhonda Vincent
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Shawn LanePlayed on recordings with Shawn Lane
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Tony TrischkaPlayed on recordings with Tony Trischka
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Audie BlaylockPlayed on recording with Audie Blaylock
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Blue HighwayPlayed on recording with Blue Highway
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Lynn MorrisPlayed on recording with Lynn Morris
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Michael Cleveland and FlamekeeperPlayed on recording with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper