Tom Bukovac

Tom Bukovac (born 1968) is an American session musician, producer, composer, vintage guitar aficionado. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Tom has made a name for himself as one of the most in-demand session players in Nashville.

Biography

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Tom played his first gigs as a pre-teen at the bar owned by his widowed mother. Through his formative years, he played in a series of local bands, but eventually grew tired of the bar scene, so in 1992 he moved to Nashville in the hopes of finding a ‘pro gig’. His first breaks came in the form of touring stints with a variety of country acts, including Tanya Tucker and Lionel Cartwright.

By the mid-1990s, Tom was touring with Wynonna Judd, and began taking on studio work in the days he wasn’t on the road. After much contemplation, in 1999 he decided to leave the touring behind and focus solely on his career as a session player. (His only touring engagements since that time were a European tour with John Fogerty in 2000 and the 2007 Soul 2 Soul Tour with Faith Hill.) His eclectic list of recording credits reads like a who’s who of modern music, and includes Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain, Chicago, Rascal Flatts, among many, many others. He has won the Music Row Magazine Session Guitarist of the Year Award the last four years in a row, and has earned a series of nominations from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Bukovac is also a gifted producer, and has taken the helm for several independent and major label acts, including Toby Keith and Jedd Hughes.

Additional Information

In terms of gear, Tom is renowned as one of the few Nashville players who relies solely on vintage guitars for his sessions. In addition to guitar, he also plays keys, bass, mandolin and steel guitar.