The Experience & Instructors

Tom Paxton’s impact on the musical world and on songwriters in particular can’t be overstated.

Tom's songs have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Sandy Denny, Doc Watson, Harry Belafonte, The Seekers, Marianne Faithfull, Placido Domingo, The Kingston Trio, the Chad Mitchell Trio, Flatt & Scruggs, The Weavers and countless others.

In describing Tom Paxton’s influence on his fellow musicians, Pete Seeger said: “Tom’s songs have a way of sneaking up on you. You find yourself humming them, whistling them, and singing a verse to a friend. Like the songs of Woody Guthrie, they’re becoming part of America.” Guy Clark adds: “Thirty years ago Tom Paxton taught a generation of traditional folksingers that it was noble to write your own songs, and, like a good guitar, he just gets better with age.” Paxton has been an integral part of the songwriting and folk music community since the Greenwich Village scene of the early ’60s, and continues to be a primary influence on today’s “New Folk” performers. The Chicago native came to New York via Oklahoma, which he considers to be his home state.

Tom is renown not only as an influential songwriter and recording artist, but also as a noteworthy music educator as well as an advocate for folk singers to combine traditional songs with new compositions.

Paxton has been honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from ASCAP, the BBC, Folk Alliance International and he received the rarely bestowed Lifetime Achievement Grammy™ from the Recording Academy. His recordings have received numerous Grammy™ nominations and he was honored with an official Parliamentary tribute at the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at the start of his 2007 UK tour. The Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor in 2004, and in May 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association.

Tom Paxton has become a voice of his generation, addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture and celebrating the tenderest bonds of family, friends, and community.

Brought to New York courtesy of the US Army, Tom remained there following his discharge. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses, such as The Gaslight and The Bitter End, led to an ever-increasing circle of work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom — the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.

His songs have become modern standards, including "The Last Thing on My Mind", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "Ramblin' Boy" and over the past 60 years, Tom has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada.

Tom Paxton’s place in folk music is secured not just by hit records and awards, but by the admiration of three generations of fellow musicians. An internationally recognized and loved cultural figure, he has always chosen goodwill over commercial success. His generosity has taken the shape of a benefit concert performance for a little girl fighting leukemia, or a personal note of encouragement to an up-and-coming songwriter. This is the man who wrote and lives the words, “Peace will come, and let it begin with me.”

We are incredibly proud and privileged to include Tom Paxton among the faculty at our inaugural Song Camp Italy. Do not miss this opportunity to learn the art and craft of songwriting at the feet of one of Folk music’s great living legends.

TomPaxton.com