Tom Rozum
Best known for
Mandolin
Tom Rozum is a Connecticut-born, Berkeley-based mandolinist, multi-instrumentalist, and harmony singer whose nearly four-decade musical partnership with Laurie Lewis — who renamed her band Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands in his honor in 2006 — has anchored West Coast bluegrass since the mid-1980s.
Assisted by AI.
Spot something off? Help us fix it.
- Born January 21, 1951 near Waterbury, Connecticut; raised in New England before moving west.
- Multi-instrumentalist on mandolin, mandola, fiddle, guitar, electric mandolin, and tenor banjo; renowned harmony vocalist and capable lead singer.
- Cut his teeth in mid-1970s Tucson with Summerdog Bluegrass Experience and Mariachi Swing Ensemble, then with Flying South in Flagstaff and the Rhythm Rascals (San Diego swing band).
- After moving to Berkeley, played with Bay Area acoustic-jazz outfit Back Up & Push.
- Joined forces with Laurie Lewis in 1986 as an original member of Grant Street (later Grant Street Band) and has been her primary musical partner ever since.
- When Lewis renamed the group in 2006 it became "Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands" — a nod to Rozum's role as her musical right hand.
- Grammy-nominated with Lewis for "The Oak and the Laurel" (Best Traditional Folk Album, 1995).
- Released solo album "Jubilee" (2000) on Dog Boy Records; longtime instructor at Bluegrass at the Beach camp on the Oregon coast (1992–2007).
-
Laurie Lewis and the Right HandsPlayed on recordings with Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands
-
Laurie LewisPlayed on recordings with Laurie Lewis
-
Laurie Lewis and Kathy KallickPlayed on recordings with Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick
-
Charles SawtellePlayed on recording with Charles Sawtelle
-
Crooked StillPlayed on recording with Crooked Still
-
Kathy Kallick and Laurie LewisPlayed on recording with Kathy Kallick and Laurie Lewis
-
Laurie Lewis and Tom RozumPlayed on recording with Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum