“Durable.” “Gritty.” “Superb.” A few words from fans and a former Air Force boss that capture the sound and temperament of retired Lieutenant Colonel and self-taught, Texas born, singer songwriter, Tom Pritchett.

Tom has spent time flying AC-130s in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading airmen and building a life with his family of four. He has strived to find ways to weave his true passion of music into his life by creating in-home studio spaces, supporting local artists, collaborating with musicians in small towns throughout his duty stations and learning a variety of instruments to include guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonica and banjo.

From an early age, music was an outlet for Tom to process life events. Since age 16 he couldn’t seem to put down the guitar. He later began to write his own songs to address the sense of alienation that came with being stationed in places with more airplanes than trees. Flying didn’t exactly come naturally but music was always a source of comfort no matter his location or phase of life.

Tom’s music captures the surrealism of lived experiences by incorporating relatable, raw truths. Incorporating influences from his eclectic taste in style, his song “Beauty Queen” recently earned a finalist spot in the inaugural “Made in Walton County” Songwriter Showdown. Tom recently completed a fellowship to assist in breathing life into a small-town studio in Valparaiso, FL. He looks forward to finding more time and space to create meaningful melodies as he approaches completion of 20 years of active-duty military service and shifts his focus to songwriting.