A virtual world music ensemble rolled into one guy. His voice weaves incantations, and the guitar is a magic wand in the hands of this extraordinary musician.
—The Takoma Park Folk Festival
Visually and musically, Tom is the most compelling presence to emerge in the singer-songwriter genre as I've seen in a long time.
—Jim Bessman, Billboard


Tom Prasada-Rao is a musician's musician - an unassuming presence on the folk scene since the early nineties. His voice belies his musicianship and his extraordinary songs. From Rishi’s Garden with it’s homage to Ravi Shankar to the groove of Sleeping Beauty , Tom’s music is melodic, ambitious, and reverent. He's starting to tour again and is currently featured on the nationally syndicated TV show Troubadour Texas.

In the fall of 2007 Tom quit the road to produce records, raise two stepdaughters, and walk a rather large Golden Doodle named Thurman twice a day. In addition to producing, he took a job teaching music at White Rock Montessori in Dallas - TPR was formerly the songwriting teacher at The University of Virginia’s Young Writer’s Workshops - where he created the songwriting curriculum and taught for eight years.

From headlining major festivals 15 years ago, to the relative obscurity of his recording studio - Tom has continued to mature as an artist. That work has blossomed into an impressive resume of producing credits as well as cuts (his songs covered by other artists). This year (2012) will mark Tom’s first solo release in 10 years - featuring bass guitar legend Chuck Rainey, and piano virtuoso Julie Bonk who was Norah Jones teacher - all masterfully produced by Jagoda.
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Tom Prasada-Rao was born in Ethiopia of Indian parents and raised in Washington DC. He moved to Texas in 2003 and is married to singer-songwriter Cary Cooper.

The most moving, pointed and memorable songs reflect Prasada-Rao's indebtedness to Bruce Cockburn, Bob Dylan, and Richard Thompson, and other singer songwriters who have something to say, and a distinctive way of saying it.
—Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

Prasada-Rao gives his folk songs an R&B flavor. George Benson, Grover Washington Jr, Marvin Gaye and a number of other Motown greats come to mind when listening to Hear You Laughing.
—Charlene J. Arsenault, The Boston Globe

Tom Prasada-Rao is a rare and brilliant performer. His fine voice and thrilling guitar work hold you spellbound while he heals your heart.
—David Wilcox, Singer-Songwriter

Tom Prasada-Rao is as far from boring folk music as you can get and still be holding an acoustic guitar.
—The Free Times, (Columbia, SC)
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