Tom "T-Bone" Lawless

Young Tom watched his brother switch from rock n' roll bass to bluegrass banjo, and was exposed to everything from Frank Zappa to Flatt and Scruggs. Attacking the guitar in 1974, T-Bone started with ragtime and bluegrass. He quickly moved on to rock, blues, country, jazz and classical, stopping at all points in between. After studying music at Old Dominion University, he marched into the Army. Graduating from the Armed Forces School of Music, he spent three years as a guitarist in the Army Band. Changing ships in 1986, he joined the Navy Band, playing guitar with them for nine years. Always broadening his "chops," Tom picked up the banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonica and tenor ukulele along the way. He joined the staff of the Howard Vance Guitar Academy in 1995, where he enjoys teaching all ages and skill levels, from brand-spankin'-new players to seasoned professionals.