Goin’ Way Up Yonder (When I Find the Time)” is the latest release from BMI Recording artist, Thomas Earl.  It’s a throwback to old time folk/gospel songs talking about a better life to come.  It’s also recorded in the old time tradition with acoustic guitars and a 5 String banjo accompaniment.

Goin' Way Up Yonder

"Goin" Way Up Yonder" (When I Find The Time.)

South Mountain Breakdown is an original bluegrass instrumental inspired by the late banjo master, Mr. Bill Keith.  When I was living in the Hudson Valley outside of New York City I had a home just a few minutes from Woodstock, NY.   I had just taken up the banjo again (after having played it back when I was in my twenties).  I purchased a vintage Gibson Mastertone Earl Scruggs banjo.  I had a chance to go see Bill Keith perform live, and asked him, after the show if he might be willing to give me some private lessons.  He graciously agreed…and for the next year I was able to spend  time with Bill in the kitchen of his Woodstock home -  taking lessons…and listening with fascination to his stories of his times with Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band.  It was an amazing opportunity to have that much quality time with one of the greatest banjo players in history!   South Mountain Breakdown was an instrumental that I wrote after one of the lessons with Bill - a kind of take off on one of his fretboard exercises.    I finally got around to recording it …and wanted to share it with the world…and dedicate it to Mr. Bill Keith.

South Mountain Breakdown -Balanced - Medium

This track is from the album It's Never Too Late and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thomasearlmusic

It's Never Too Late

This track is from the album Golddust Magic and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thomasearl

On My Way

A song composed by Thomas Earl based on his experience of being in New York City on 9/11,

A Hole In The Sky  MP3

An Homage to one of my favorite songwriters - Tom Waits. Now available everywhere - iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc..

Thomas Earl - Broke In Two (Re - Mastered)

“Hidden Inside” is a ballad that was inspired from reading The White Dragon book series by Stefan Bolz.  The White Dragon is an epic coming of age story in which a young girl must must make incredible sacrifices to finally reach her destiny.  The music is composed in an Open D tuning which provides a wonderful rich resonating sound and emotional vibe to the song.  The music was inspired from a year that Thomas Earl spent in Maui, listening to open tuning Slack Key music..and spending days at the ocean soaking in the sun and energy of the Island. It is also an homage to one of his favorite songwriters - Tom Waits.

Thomas Earl - Hidden Inside

Thomas Earl has been writing and performing music for over 50 years.  He is proficient in both guitar and bluegrass banjo ,with a focus on creative finger style techniques.   He has written dozens of original songs, including original music for theater productions, and has released two CDs of original music. His unique approach to playing and writing is based on very early influences ranging from Joni Mitchel and Mississippi John Hurt to Dave “Snaker” Ray, James Taylor and Bill Keith.