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Even before singer/songwriter Tommy Wiggins eased onto the national music scene in 1990 with the Nouveau/K-Tel release Cool Saturdays, he had years of recording experience behind him. The Minnesota native made his first appearance on a recording in 1972, when Freeland, the hippie country-folk-rock band he then belonged to, released Headin' Back. Wiggins' solo work began appearing in 1980, when he released his Expensive Fun LP. Three more releases followed before his first Nouveau/K-Tel national release. Black Velvet Elvis appeared in 1984, with soundtrack recordings Angels of Warsaw in 1987 and Tracers a year later. His musical artistry did not go unnoticed on the local Minneapolis and St. Paul music scene, and he drew nominations from the Minnesota Music Awards, including one in 1983 in the category of Best New Artist, and another five years later in the category of Best Soundtrack LP. Also during the 1980s, Wiggins established his own label, Chilidog Records, which concentrates on alternative music. The singer/songwriter first picked up a musical instrument when he was eight years old. Inspired by Lawrence Welk's weekly television program that featured polkas and popular standards, Wiggins turned to the accordion (Welk’s Myron Florin was Tommy’s first musical idol). When the Beatles' hit the shores of the U.S., however, his attention turned to the music of the British Invasion. During his teens, he drew inspiration from such groups as the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Youngbloods and the Animals, and most especially the latter group's keyboard player, Alan Price.” Since 2001, Tommy has hosted the Cleveland cable television shows "Crooked River Groove", (featuring performances by regional artists), and the Emmy® winning songwriter interview program "Words&Music". Tommy’s recent recordings include All Night Driving (1998), Big Apple Hum (2001) and Adult Themes (2004). Tommy directs the Recording Arts & Technology program at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, continues to write songs and performs live whenever he can.
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