Hailing from Fresno, California, the raisin capital of the world, Tom Bishel can’t remember a time in his life when he wasn’t singing. While singing along with the radio and playing with his Hot Wheels at the age of three, a family friend said, “That boy has got perfect pitch.”
Tom probably got that from listening to his parents singing in the church choir. “Mom always sang the harmony, so I really picked up on that from the beginning.” Tom further developed his vocal style under the tutelage of San Jose’s Verlene Schermer, and later LA’s Steven Memel.
Tom has his uncle to thank for his first guitar – a 60’s Epiphone. Tom took it from there, got himself a chord book, and started learning the classics: Led Zep, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles. He is now the proud owner of a dozen guitars, including a classic Les Paul.
Tom led several bands and played throughout San Jose’s busy coffeehouse scene. After a stint as the lead singer for a powerpop band, Tom fled theSilicon Valley and set his sights on Los Angeles in 2001. He has scored three short films, including the festival-award-winning In Order of Appearance, for which he also served as musical director. He and his Parallel Motion Music partners got a tune into the film Cold Ones, starring C. Thomas Howell, and he wrote a song that was featured on Playboy Satellite Radio’s Playmate Hour.
Tom loves listening to Neil Finn, Tears for Fears, theBeatles, James Taylor, Lyle Lovett, and Led Zeppelin, and their influences canbe heard in his music. Tom was fortunate enough to get a speeding ticket (full grateful irony to be read into those words), which prompted him to attend traffic school, where he met fellow lawbreaker and Golden-Globe-winning
Tom has been working with producer Ted Wulfers on his newest material, including collaborations with Patricia Bahia, Kenny Segal (MarkHart), and Khoi Huynh (The Corner Laughers), and a song written with Evan Blum and Allan Rich, a two-time Academy Award nominee in addition to his Grammy andGolden Globe nominations, whose songs have sold over 65 Million copies. Also forthcoming is an EP in collaboration with Duff Ferguson.
Tom lives in Los Angeles with his wife Heidi, a novelist, and their rescued senior dogs. When he isn’t in the studio, he likes to travel, hike, and binge-watch Seinfeld reruns.