Press Archives

Takoma Park Folk Festival 2006
September 18, 2006

Dear Tom & Emily:

Thank you so much for traveling to Takoma Park on September 10th to entertain the children from our city and the surrounding area. You were a perfect match to their Saturday morning level of activity!

I hope that you found your energies rewarded by both the sale of CD's, exposure to a new audience, and the synergy of the audience. We hope you will consider returning in the future.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth Forbes Wallace
Grassy Nook Stage Coordinator
TPFF 2006

First Friday Coffeehouse
September 1, 2006

First Friday Coffeehouse will kick off its fall season with an incredible duo, Tom Proutt and Emily Gary, September 1 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 220 West Martin Street, Martinsburg. The feature act will be preceded by a one-hour open mic. Social and open mic sign up is at 7:30 PM.

Tom and Emily are well known performers in the Charlottesville, VA area. Tom is an amazing songwriter and guitar player. Emily's strength is a beautiful, clear soprano voice that shapes a lyric...whether singing lead or harmony. They have showcased their talent on CD and in prominent venues throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Their repertoire consists of provocative originals and jazz standards.

First Friday is a community-based coffeehouse. Snacks, coffee and refreshments are available throughout the evening. For more information call 304-263-9215.

C-Ville Weekly
August 15, 2006

Allen got the idea when he was racing motorcycles and became interested in the idea of sponsorship. "If people get money thrown at them to tear up cars, there should be sponsors to promote musicians in community service," he says. An official entitity since 2002, Songsharing has worked with a fine group of local musicians, including Thomas Gunn, Jeff Romano, Tom Proutt and Emily Gary, as well as well-known nonlocals like Asheville's Dana Robinson. Proutt and Gary, who are great musicians and a winning live act, are starting to tour outside Charlottesville more often, and their upcoming tour will include a volunteer Songsharing performance at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Maryland.

From the Blue Rose Acoustic Guild Newsletter
June 5, 2004

After the break for coffee, goodies and quality chat, our feature for the evening took the stage. Tom Proutt and Emily Gary, a couple of long-time locals and musicians who work the area extensively performed their tight and well-rehearsed harmonies, wit and technical skills that make Tom one of the area's more visible guitarists. "Stone Lions" was one to the first songs Tom and Emily played together, according to the duo, and it showed. Well-arranged, fine singing and clever lyrics put the song over well with the assembled multitudes. I enjoyed "17 Things You Can Do With Your Mules," things I personally had never thought of. But my favorites were the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong cover of "Stars Fell On Alabama," and their version of "Bye Bye Blackbird." Man that brought back memories. All in all, it was a good evening of music and friendship.

From the Gravity Lounge Mailing List
March 14, 2004

Tom Proutt and Emily Gary are Charlottesville's most enchanting new duo: Tom's brilliant songwriting is perfectly supported by Emily's beautiful voice. And did I forget to mention Tom's guitar playing? Great songs, great talent, wonderful people. A good time is assured.

From the Blue Rose Acoustic Guild Newsletter
February 7, 2004

Well, it could just be because I had the pleasure of picking with Duke Merrick, but January's show was just a blast! The talent that graced the stage that night floored me. Tom Proutt and Emily Gary started the evening with graceful harmonies, home style songwriting and Tom's typically smooth guitar work. We are excited to announce that Tom and Emily will return in May as our Feature act. Who knows what lineup Tom will bring but you can be sure it will be fun.

From The Hook
October 23, 2003

Tom Proutt, the night's big name, was up next, and the guitarist took the stage with Emily Gary on backing vocals seated to his left. Though I've seen Tom Proutt play before, as the principal guitarist in roots/pop favorite the Jan Smith Band, this was my first exposure to a full live set of Proutt originals. Read more...

From listener e-mail

Dear Tom,
Thanks for the tactile. I enjoy it quite a bit. I played the "Sliced Bread" cut for my music listening group in the men's shelter I work in. One guy said it reminded him of Les Paul and Mary Ford, another said it would be a good song to have along on a BarBQ.
Best
Noah