Tom Billotto plays jazz and classic pop music on his acoustic classical guitar, using a traditional “finger-style” technique.
More than 35 years of musical evolution incorporating an eclectic blend of influences have produced the precise and warm guitar and vocal style of Tom Billotto. “Charlotte’s Best” magazine voted him “Best Local Acoustic” musician… “Tom Billotto plays brilliant guitar and his mellow voice caresses many a song with sweet notes.”
Tom’s sound is often described as “classy”…”tasteful”, and certainly his extensive musical training and influences contribute to these descriptions. At the heart of this sound is Tom’s Classical Guitar – or “finger- style” – technique which uses the right hand fingers to individually pluck the strings, supplying complex melody, rhythm and bass lines simultaneously. Tom’s sound took flight during formal music studies in college, culminating in a Music Performance Degree in Classical Guitar and Voice.
Tom Billotto FAQs
Q. What style of music do you play?
A. Acoustic guitar Jazz and Classic Pop
Q. How many songs do you typically play in a set & what instrument do you play?
A. Approximately twenty pieces per hour – all on acoustic/classical guitar.
Q. Do you play in other configurations?
A. Yes – I can play as a duo and trio (light percussion, additional acoustic guitar, ukulele, or bass)
Q. Why did you become a professional musician?
A. I love creating intimate and beautiful sounds, and the challenge of trying to make six strings sound like a full band, or even an orchestra – melody, bass, chords and rhythm all on one small instrument (organically – without digital assistance). This is what attracted me to classical guitar, jazz and Bossa Nova music when I was young. It’s what led me to pursue a degree in music and it thrills and inspires me to this day. I only play music that I love, and I believe that comes across to the audience in my performances.
Q. Where are you located?
A. Charlotte, NC
Q. Do you travel?
A. Yes
Q. Why should an event professional book you?
A. I play heartfelt, easy-listening music with classical technique, but a nod to well-crafted traditional jazz and popular music of the past. I’m thoroughly dependable, on-time and professional (but relaxed) in my presentation. My repertoire is quite extensive and varied in order to cater to all musical tastes.
Q. Do you have the capability of providing your own sound & lights?
A. I have a very compact but professional PA system but no lights.
Song List
Instrumental Selections (guitar only – no vocal)
Popular…
James Taylor: Carolina In My Mind; Something In The Way She Moves
Carol King/James Taylor: You’ve Got A Friend
The Beatles: And I Love Her; Here, There And Everywhere; In My Life; All You Need Is Love; Here Comes The Sun; Something; I Will; Mother Nature’s Son
Paul McCartney: Maybe I’m Amazed
Christopher Cross: Sailing
Stevie Wonder: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life; Isn’t She Lovely
Bee Gees: How Deep Is Your Love
Norah Jones: Come Away With Me
Adele: Make You Feel My Love
Michael Buble: Home
Orleans/Chet Atkins: Sails
Queen: You’re My Best Friend
Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender; Can’t Help Falling In Love; You Were Always On My Mind Snow Patrol: Chasing Cars
Bob Dylan: Buckets Of Rain
Keith Urban: Making Memories of Us
Paul Stookey: The Wedding Song
Train: Marry Me
Rascal Flatts: Bless The Broken Road
Hall And Oates: You Make My Dreams Come True
Jazz Standards…
George & Ira Gershwin: Someone To Watch Over Me; Embraceable You
Ella Fitzgerald: Stairway To The Stars
Irving Berlin: Always
Disney: When You Wish Upon A Star; Someday My Prince Will Come
Isham Jones/Gus Kahn: It Had To Be You
Edith Piaf: Le Vie En Rose
Rodgers & Hart: Blue Moon
Vernon Duke/John Latouche: Taking A Chance On Love
Benny Goodman: Moonglow
Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke: Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Erroll Garner: Misty
Hall And Oates: You Make My Dreams Come True
Louis Armstrong: What A Wonderful World
Harold Arlen: Over The Rainbow
Classical/Traditional…
Richard Wagner: Bridal Chorus
Johanne Pachelbel: Canon In D
Felix Mendelssohn: The Wedding March
Johanne Sebastian Bach: Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring; Air For The G String; Prelude No. 1 from Well-Tempered Clavier (a.k.a. “Ave Maria”) * note: different than below Franz Schubert: Ave Maria * note: different than above
Ludwig von Beethoven: Fur Elise
Jeremiah Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
George Frideric Handel: Hornpipe
Fernando Sor: Variations On A Theme From Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”; Estudio No. 2 Matteo Carcassi: Etude No. 3
Vocal Selections
Popular…
James Taylor: Carolina In My Mind; You’ve Got A Friend; Something In The Way She Moves; The Secret O’ Life; You Can Close Your Eyes; Shower The People
Beatles: I Will; Here There And Everywhere
John Lennon: Grow Old With Me
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Our House
Eagles: Love Will Keep Us Alive
Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender; Can’t Help Falling In Love; You Were Always On My Mind Paul Stookey: The Wedding Song
Stevie Wonder: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life; For Once In My Life Keith Urban: Making Memories of Us
Anne Murray: Could I Have This Dance
Train: Marry Me
Rascal Flatts: Bless The Broken Road
Bob Welch/Fleetwood Mac: Sentimental Lady
Hall And Oates: You Make My Dreams Come True
Jazz Standards…
Cole Porter: Night And Day; From This Moment On
Frank Loesser: Say It (Over And Over Again)
Irving Berlin: Always; Cheek To Cheek
Frank Sinatra: Fly Me To The Moon; My Blue Heaven; East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) George & Ira Gershwin: Love Is Here To Stay; They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields: I’m In The Mood For Love
Isham Jones/Gus Kahn: It Had To Be You
Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart: I Could Write A Book; My Romance; Blue Moon
Nat King Cole: That’s All; It’s Only A Paper Moon; Just You, Just me
Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington: The Nearness Of You
Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields: The Way You Look Tonight
Johnny Mercer/Richard Whiting: Too Marvelous For Words
Benny Goodman: Moonglow
Harry Warren/Mack Gordon: There Will Never Be Another You Duke Ellington: I’m beginning To See The Light
Vincent Youmans: More Than You Know
Guy Wood /Robert Mellin: My One And Only Love
Ray Noble: The Very Thought Of You
Jimmy McHugh/Dorothy Fields: Exactly Like You
Disney’s Lady And The Tramp: Bella Notte
