Music has been a driving force in Tom Frietchen’s life for as long as he can remember. His modern twist on classic rock and country soul has roots he can trace to his childhood.
While growing up in Strongville, Ohio, Tom remembers his parents always listening to music - at home, in the car - everything from Patsy Cline to Elvis.
He’d listen to the pop hits of the day on his own radio and when he’d visit his Uncle Chuck he’d get a cranked up dose of Led Zeppelin & The Who.
Tom was a bonafide music fan, but it was the jaw-dropping excitement of going to his first rock concert… KISS…when he was around 10, that put him over the top. Tom picked up the guitar and quickly became an accomplished musician and songwriter, playing in various local rock bands. After graduating high school, Tom got his first taste of success with his band Priscilla, receiving airplay on nationally syndicated radio, touring and getting attention from the music press.
But keeping bands together wasn’t easy and Tom made the difficult decision to put his music career on hold to start a family and build his painting and remodeling business. But he never stopped writing music.
As fate would have it, it was one of his painting jobs that restarted his music journey. When Tom told the customer that he was a songwriter, he said “I’ve got a studio here, why don’t you come by and record some of your music.” The guy with the studio was drummer/engineer Robb Colbrunn and that recording session turned out to be the beginning of the next phase of Tom’s career. In fact, these are the sessions that delivered the tracks for Tom’s new album “Next Red Light”. He began writing again with a purpose. Songs about small town life. Songs about the people, places and things we all know. Classic American music. Rock & Roll. Country. All rolled into one just like when he was a kid.
So Tom Frietchen is officially back where he belongs - writing and performing his eclectic hybrid of classic rock and southern country soul with his new band and bringing with it all the fun, good times and excitement of the music that got him here.