Thom Bresh

Thomas Charles Bresh (February 23, 1948 – May 23, 2022), sometimes spelled Tom Bresh, was an American country music guitarist and singer. Active from the 1970s, Bresh charted multiple singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Thom Bresh
Birth nameThomas Charles Bresh[1]
Also known asTom Bresh
Born(1948-02-23)February 23, 1948
Hollywood, California, U.S.
DiedMay 23, 2022(2022-05-23) (aged 74)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, actor, stuntman
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1951–2022
LabelsKapp, Farr, ABC
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

Bresh was born on February 23, 1948, in Hollywood, California, as the son of country singer Merle Travis. As a child, Bresh began acting in films and recording his own music.[2] He also worked as a movie stuntman at the Corriganville Movie Ranch.

In 1963, he was a member of the rock and roll band The Crescents featuring Chiyo when they recorded an instrumental track, "Pink Dominos". Producer Kim Foley issued this as a 45RPM single with "Breakout" on the B-side. "Pink Dominos" peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1964.[3]

He then released a solo single about D. B. Cooper which was withdrawn due to controversy over its subject matter.[4]

Starting in 1972, Bresh recorded for Kapp Records. His first charted single, "Home Made Love", made number six on the Hot Country Songs charts in 1976.[5] This was included on an album of the same name for Farr Records. Due to the song's success, Bresh was nominated by the Academy of Country Music as Top New Male Vocalist that year.[4]

Bresh recorded two albums for ABC Records as well: Kicked Back in 1977 and Portrait a year later, both produced by Jimmy Bowen. Cash Box magazine reviewed Kicked Back favorably, saying that Bresh had "[a] perfectly mellow voice and vital tracks with excellent material and interpretation".[6] Record World magazine published a positive review of Portrait, calling the album "versatile" and noting the variety of musical influences.[7] Included on Portrait was a cover of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" which featured Bresh performing thirteen different impersonations.[8]

Bresh hosted a weekly television variety show of his own creation, Nashville Swing, was a regular on The Merv Griffin Show and Dinah!,[8] and made a guest appearance on the TNN special A Salute to the Country Greats. As a producer, he has been employed by country legend Jerry Reed, classical guitarist Valerie DuChateau, and Merle Travis. As a videographer, Bresh has shot, produced, and edited projects for Hank Thompson, Lyle Lovett, Brooks & Dunn, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and Jerry Reed.[9]

Bresh was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021. He died in Nashville on May 23, 2022, at the age of 74.[10]

Discography

Albums
Year Album Label Comment
1976 Homemade Love Farr Records – FL-1000
1977 Kicked Back ABC Dot – DO-2084
1978 Portrait ABC Records – AB-1055
? Bresh and Brody Live! Double B Ent. 0051 w/ Lane Brody
1993 Son Of A Guitar Pickin' Man Belle Meade Records – BMCD-193
? Next Generation Belle Meade Records – BMCD-494
1992, 1993 Live & Pickin'! Belle Meade Records – BMCD-195, DCM Digital Records – DCM100
ca 1995 The World's Greatest Guitar Pickin' Entertainer In The World Legend LR-109 live album, enhanced reissue of BMCD-195, feat. Buster B. Jones
1999 Wires To The Wood DCM Digital Records – DCM101
2001 Guts & Steel [Groovemasters vol. 5] Solid Air Records – SACD2025 w/ Buster B. Jones
2002 Down & Not Too Dirty Bresh Entertainment?
2011? @ Home ?
ca 2013? Guitar Boy ?
2018? Time ?

Singles
Year Single US Country[5] US AC[11] Album
1976 "Homemade Love" 6 — Homemade Love
"Sad Country Love Song" 17 37
"Hey Daisy (Where Have All the Good Times Gone)" 33 —
1977 "Until I Met You" 57 — Kicked Back
"That Old Cold Shoulder" 48 —
1978 "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" 78 — Portrait
"Ways of a Woman in Love" 74 —
"First Encounter of a Close Kind" 84 — singles only
1982 "When It Comes to Love" (with Lane Brody) 77 —
1983 "I'd Love You to Want Me" — —
"Somebody Like You" — —

References
  1. Family Tree Legends
  2. "Thom Bresh biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012 (14th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.
  4. "New career stuns stuntman". The Jackson Sun. June 25, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
  6. "Country Singles Reviews/Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 48. July 2, 1977.
  7. "Country album picks" (PDF). Record World: 74. April 29, 1978.
  8. "Tom Brest [sic] visits Huntingburg". The Herald. June 19, 1978. p. 22. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  9. Thom Bresh's official biography
  10. "Country Guitar Great & Top Showman Thom Bresh Passes". 25 May 2022.
  11. "Adult Contemporary chart results". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
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