MARVELOUS MUSICIAN | Tommy Thomsen

This post is a copy of an article written by Joy Pepito for the Sonoma Magazine

Tommy Thomsen’s life is a rich tapestry woven from Sonoma roots, mu­sic legends, and timeless Western Swing. From his early days exploring Sonoma Plaza to a music career that spans the globe, Tom­my’s story captures the spirit of com­munity, adventure, and the passion that  keeps him playing.

Tommy Thomsen is a local legend, carrying decades of history and music wherever he goes. Born and raised in Sonoma, Tommy has been steeped in music since childhood. His mother was a renowned honky-tonk piano player, and his uncle was known as “Pete the Singing Milkman.”

 Growing up in Sonoma in the 1950s, Tommy played around Sonoma Plaza, building forts in the bamboo groves and collecting duck eggs. But the defining moment of his youth came at age 14 when he saw a soul revue at the Sonoma Coun­ty Fair. By the time the music stopped, Tommy knew he needed to learn guitar. With piano and music theory under his belt, he began guitar lessons with Jerry Benedetto, from a family known for Vel­la’s Creamery on the Plaza. It wasn’t long before he and his friend Don Martini started a band, The Headsmen, and they played all over Sonoma County.

Tommy found his rhythm in West­ern Swing, a unique genre blending jazz with Western charm, made famous by the iconic Bob Wills. Inspired, Tommy named his band the Wills Point Playboys, honor­ing the Western Swing musicians he met along the way, many of whom became his mentors. He spent the ‘70s and ‘80s trav­eling to Western Swing festivals, where jam sessions ran through the nights and into the mornings.

“Tommy’s not just a musician; he’s a living part of music history.”

Tommy’s dedication to Western Swing has earned him multiple Hall of Fame honors from Sacramento to Seat­tle and Ft. Worth. In 2017, he even bought a legendary club in Turkey, Texas, called the Church of Western Swing, a fitting addition for a musician who’s built his life around the genre.

These days, you can catch Tommy on Sonoma’s KSVY radio, 91.3 FM and on the world wide web at KSVY.ORG every Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. for his show, *Swingin’ Out West*, where he shares his love for Western Swing with his hometown. After a life­time of travel, music, and stories, Tommy has shown Sonoma—and the world—that he’s not just a musician; he’s a living part of music history.