Tom Bukovac
Tom Bukovac (born December 20, 1968) is an American session musician and producer. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in nearby Willowick, Ohio. He has been a Nashville-based musician since 1992.[1] He previously owned 2nd Gear, a used music consignment shop in South Nashville.[2]
Formative years
Bukovac began playing guitar at age eight, and performed his first shows at age thirteen at his widowed mother's bar, The Surfside Lounge, in Eastlake, Ohio. He moved to Nashville in 1992 to pursue a career as a guitarist.1
Session Work
Bukovac has played on over 500 albums,[1] including projects by Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, John Oates, Joan Osborne, Vince Gill, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Hank Williams Jr., Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Florida Georgia Line, Lionel Richie, among many others.[3]
Awards and nominations
Music Row Magazine Awards[4]
Year | Category | Result |
2005 | Session Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2006 | Session Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2007 | Session Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2008 | Session Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2009 | Session Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
Academy of Country Music Awards[5]
Year | Category | Result |
2004 | Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
2005 | Top Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
2006 | Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
2007 | Top Guitarist of the Year | Nominee |
2008 | Top Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2010 | Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
2012 | Guitarist of the Year | Nominee |
2014 | Guitar Player of the Year | Winner |
Touring
Bukovac has toured with Joe Walsh (2017 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 40th Anniversary Tour[6]); Vince Gill (2016); John Fogerty; Faith Hill; Trigger Hippy; Wynonna Judd; Tanya Tucker, and others.[7]
Production credits
In 2014, Bukovac produced Trigger Hippy's self-titled album, which was released by Rounder Records. Featured on this album alongside Bukovac are Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman (of Black Crowes) and Nick Govrik.[8]
Collaborations
With Stevie Nicks
- In Your Dreams (Reprise Records, 2011)
- 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault (Reprise Records, 2014)
With Kenny Rogers
- Back to the Well (Dreamcatcher, 2003)
- Water & Bridges (Capitol Records, 2006)
With Wynonna Judd
- What the World Needs Now Is Love (Curb Records, 2003)
With Kenny Chesney
- Here and Now (Blue Chair, 2020)
With Joss Stone
- LP1 (Surfdog Records, 2011)
With Beth Nielsen Chapman
- Look (Compass Records, 2005)
With Blake Shelton
- Startin' Fires (Warner Bros. Records, 2009)
- Hillbilly Bone (Reprise Records, 2010)
- All About Tonight (Reprise Records, 2010)
- Red River Blue (Warner Bros. Records, 2011)
- Based on a True Story... (Warner Bros. Records, 2013)
- Bringing Back the Sunshine (Warner Bros. Records, 2014)
- If I'm Honest (Warner Bros. Records, 2016)
With Carrie Underwood
- Some Hearts (Arista Records, 2005)
- Carnival Ride (Arista Records, 2007)
- Play On (Arista Records, 2009)
- Blowin Away (Arista Records, 2012)
- Storyteller (Arista Records, 2015)
- Cry Pretty (Capitol Records, 2018)
With Jennifer Nettles
- To Celebrate Christmas (Big Machine Records, 2016)
With Martina McBride
- Shine (RCA Records, 2009)
- Eleven (Republic Nashville, 2011)
- Everlasting (Vinyl Recordings, 2014)
With Jennette McCurdy
- Jennette McCurdy (Capitol Nashville, 2012)
With Josh Groban
- Noël (Reprise Records, 2007)
With Kim Carnes
- Chasin' Wild Trains (Sparky Dawg Music, 2004)
With Peter Cetera
- You Just Gotta Love Christmas (Viastar, 2004)
With Joe Cocker
- Hard Knocks (Columbia Records, 2010)
- Fire It Up (Columbia Records, 2012)
With Sara Evans
- Real Fine Place (RCA Records, 2005)
- Stronger (RCA Records, 2011)
With Rob Thomas
- Cradlesong (Atlantic Records, 2009)
- Someday (Atlantic Records, 2010)
With Sheryl Crow
- Feels Like Home (Warner Bros. Records, 2013)
With Faith Hill
- Fireflies (Warner Bros. Records, 2005)
- Joy to the World (Warner Bros. Records, 2008)
With Brian Wilson
- No Pier Pressure (Capitol Records, 2015)
With Amy Grant
- Simple Things (A&M Records, 2003)
- How Mercy Looks from Here (Capitol Records, 2013)
With Vince Gill
- These Days (MCA Records, 2006)
- Guitar Slinger (MCA Records, 2011)
- Okie (MCA Records, 2019)
With Billy Ray Cyrus
- Home at Last (Walt Disney Records, 2007)
With LeAnn Rimes
- This Woman (Curb Records, 2005)
- Whatever We Wanna (Curb Records, 2006)
- Family (Curb Records, 2007)
- Spitfire (Curb Records, 2013)
With Bob Seger
- Ride Out (Capitol Records, 2014)
- I Knew You When (Capitol Records, 2017)
With Kelly Clarkson
- All I Ever Wanted (RCA Records, 2009)
- The Calling (Zoe, 2007)
With Ashley Monroe
- The Blade (Warner Bros. Records, 2015)
With Dolly Parton
- Backwoods Barbie (Dolly, 2008)
With Cyndi Lauper
- Detour (Rhino Records, 2016)
With Tim McGraw
- Southern Voice (Curb Records, 2009)
Personal life
In 2010 he married songwriter/artist Sarah Buxton. They have two children.[1] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he started the YouTube video series, Homeskoolin'. The videos, recorded with an iPhone in Tom’s garage, became a YouTube sensation and “essential watching” for guitarists.
References
- Wardlaw, Matt. "Northeast Ohio Native Tom Bukovac Excited to Return to Town with Country Star Vince Gill". Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- Smith, Desmond. (11 November 2016). 2nd Gear Used Music Consignment. Above The Fold. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- "Tom Bukovac | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- "Past Musician Award Winners". 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- LTD., BubbleUp. "winners". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- "Legendary Joe Walsh Is Back Out on the Road Today With Tour Dates Throughout Spring and Summer". ymlp.com. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- Guitar, Vintage (2005-09-01). "September 2005". Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- "Rounder Records Signs Trigger Hippy". 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2016-06-27.