Tom Kimmel
Encyclopedia
Tom Kimmel is an American
singer-songwriter
and poet
.
Tom Kimmel grew up largely in small towns in south Alabama. He attended public schools and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1975.
A respected performer and recording artist, Kimmel is perhaps best known as a songwriter, as his compositions have been recorded by many popular artists, including Johnny Cash
, Waylon Jennings
, Linda Ronstadt
, Joe Cocker
and Randy Travis
. His songs have also been featured in television shows including Miami Vice
, Touched By An Angel
and Dawson’s Creek—and in films including Twins, Runaway Bride
and Serendipity
.
That's Freedom, the lead track on his 5 To 1 album, was co-written by Kimmel. This song became a Top 10 hit for Australian singer John Farnham
in late 1990.
His concert performances stress a soulful, acoustic-centered approach and bring a poignant, humorous spirit to his songs, poems and stories. Today he continues to tour widely, usually as a solo performer. He occasionally tours with the Sherpas, a trio he formed in 1994 with Michael Lille and Tom Prasada Rao. A new trio, the New Agrarians, was recently formed with Pierce Pettis and Kate Campbell.
As writer and artist, Kimmel’s devotion to spiritual inquiry and social activism is evident in the depth of his work, and he is appreciated for his compelling and intelligent recordings.
A man comfortable wearing many hats, he frequently teaches songwriting and creative expression at retreats and workshops, and in 2006 he published his first book of poems. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and daughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Tom Kimmel grew up largely in small towns in south Alabama. He attended public schools and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1975.
A respected performer and recording artist, Kimmel is perhaps best known as a songwriter, as his compositions have been recorded by many popular artists, including Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
and Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
. His songs have also been featured in television shows including Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
, Touched By An Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
and Dawson’s Creek—and in films including Twins, Runaway Bride
Runaway Bride (1999 film)
Runaway Bride is a 1999 American romantic comedy film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall. The screenplay was written by Josann McGibbon, Audrey Wells and Sara Parriott.-Plot:...
and Serendipity
Serendipity (film)
Serendipity is a 2001 romantic comedy, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It was written by Marc Klein and directed by Peter Chelsom...
.
That's Freedom, the lead track on his 5 To 1 album, was co-written by Kimmel. This song became a Top 10 hit for Australian singer John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
in late 1990.
His concert performances stress a soulful, acoustic-centered approach and bring a poignant, humorous spirit to his songs, poems and stories. Today he continues to tour widely, usually as a solo performer. He occasionally tours with the Sherpas, a trio he formed in 1994 with Michael Lille and Tom Prasada Rao. A new trio, the New Agrarians, was recently formed with Pierce Pettis and Kate Campbell.
As writer and artist, Kimmel’s devotion to spiritual inquiry and social activism is evident in the depth of his work, and he is appreciated for his compelling and intelligent recordings.
A man comfortable wearing many hats, he frequently teaches songwriting and creative expression at retreats and workshops, and in 2006 he published his first book of poems. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and daughter.
Discography
- 1987 – 5 to 1
- 1990 – Circle Back Home
- 1993 – Don't Look Back
- 1994 – Bones
- 1999 – Short Stories
- 2002 – Shallow Water
- 2003 – Honor Among Thieves (with The Sherpas)
- 2004 – Light of Day