Tom Renaud, contemporary folksinger
Tom Renaud grew up in New England, then moved to California for college years. In graduate school he trained in special education; but after teaching the physically disabled for two years his life took a radically different turn. He discovered a unique spiritual community, of which he was a member for the next 23 years. In that time he lived in Nova Scotia, Ireland, Arizona, and Colorado. He had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of people from many parts of the world and many walks of life. He also worked extensively with his hands—from woodworking to stone pounding, from building houses to detailed carving. And throughout, guitar playing.
Music has been a cornerstone of Tom's life since he learned to play guitar as a teenager. He began songwriting in college, and has pursued the craft ever since. He has written well over 200 songs and 40 or so poems. His many experiences both within the U.S. and in other cultures have enriched his music. He’s played and sung publicly everywhere he’s lived, in venues ranging from small concert halls to schools, churches, conferences, restaurants, coffee houses, and occasionally large events. He’s made a total of seven recordings over the past 20 years, including a collaborative CD with the Canadian duo Evans and Doherty, which received national airplay there. In addition to his own music, he sings a variety of traditional and cover songs.
Recently he’s been focusing more intensely on solo guitar. His expanding repertoire includes Irish harp melodies, music from the Beatles, traditional tunes, and originals. His latest CD, “Walden Farewell”, is entirely instrumental.
In 2005 Tom returned to teaching physically impaired children, and currently lives in Santa Clarita, California. Music continues to be his passion, and he has begun performing in the Los Angeles area. He is happy to bring his songs and guitar pieces to a wide spectrum of settings.