RealTracks Artist Bio: Tommy Hannum

Maryland ⁄ DC native Tommy Hannum was a Rock ′n′ Roll singer and guitar player until he took up the steel guitar while attending college. He was working with Emmylou Harris (pre Gram Parsons) when he joined the Rosslyn Mountain Boys, who opened for and backed up for Emmylou and other stars such as Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, Vassar Clements, Bill Anderson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, and Buck Owens. They also released two albums of their own before breaking up, which was when Tommy moved to Nashville to begin his long association with Ricky Van Shelton while becoming a busy session player.

Tommy Hannum is known for his ability to move easily between old-school and contemporary styles, with credits that include Tammy Wynette, Vince Gill, Jack Ingram, Ray Price, Ricky Van Shelton, Steve Earle, Jeannie Seely, Randy Travis, Kennedy-Rose, Vern Gosdin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Amy Rigby, David Allan Coe, Patty Loveless, Jill Sobule, Jack Greene, Pam Tillis, Bob Woodruff, Razzy Bailey, Jim Lauderdale, the Judds, Ron Sexsmith, Russell Smith, John Hartford, Kelli Coffey, Emmylou Harris, Big and Rich, Buddy Jewell, John England and The Western Swingers, Lynn Anderson, Trent Tomlinson, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker, Buddy Spicher and the Nashville Swing Band, Chely Wright, Bill Medley, Larry Willoughby, Hank Williams III, Swan Dive, Solomon Burke, and Brett James.

Tommy has been a songwriter since his days with the Rossylyn Mountain Boys, and contributed a song to the 2009 Billy Bob Thornton movie "The Sweet Smell of Success." He has also released two CDs of his own, "Chesapeake Blues" and "Not Rocket Science," and his song "Old Town" was #1 on the Western Swing chart and nominated for Western Swing Song Of The Year by the Academy of Western Artists.

In addition to the pedal steel, Tommy′s CDs feature him on lap steel, dobro, and acoustic guitar. He brings this same multi-instrument versatility to his current touring gig with Clay Walker.

To read more about Tommy Hannum and hear his music, go to www.myspace.com/tommyhannum

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