Tom Hudson
Tom Hudson, Yellowknife Inn, 1975, Yellowknife, NT (Photo courtesy Tom Hudson)
Metis Singer/Songwriter Tom Hudson hails from Thebacha, Fort Smith, NWT, a town known for producing some of the finest singers and musicians the north has to offer.
Tom found his voice early, singing along with the pop songs of the day and went on to sing with many northern bands.
Tom Hudson, 1969, Hay River, NT (Photo courtesy Tom Hudson)
Tom Hudson, 1969, Akaitcho Hall, Yellowknife, NT (Photo courtesy David Evalik)
‘The Centennaires’, 1967. L-R; Lawrence Thrasher, (unknown), Eddie Bazie, David Evalik, Tom Hudson, Archie Plamondin (Photo courtesy David Evalik)
The Full Interview:
From the Host:
Host Pat Braden
“The first time I can recall seeing and hearing Tom Hudson, I must have been 10 or 12 years old. Maybe it was at one of the all ages dances they used to put on upstairs in the Legion Hall.
Or maybe at another all ages venue that ran in the summer in the basement of the United church (Now Northern United Place). There was something seductive and taboo being there, the air thick with cigarette smoke, the taste of watered down Tang or Freshie, the oil and water overhead projector transparencies.
Of course the music was loud and aggressive and the characters performing on stage quite foreign and intimidating to me. But I can still see Tom Hudson, leaning on a stand, microphone in hand and singing his heart out.
The local musicians were all older than myself by more than a few years and so I was intimidated by most of them, not really having the confidence to meet their eye and talk music with them until I was well into high school with a Bass guitar in my hands.
Later, I went out to music school in Edmonton and Tom did some travelling as well. We finally got to work together in a band called the “Komatiks” starting in 1987 and ending in 1990 or so.
The band played a mixture of cover songs and original songs written collectively. Most of the material was pop music and Tom always knocked me out with how closely he could mimic the tone, phrasing and attitude of the lead vocal of the original recording.
He could/can do this not only with pop music but with an amazing variety of musical styles as heard on his work with the late Randy Daniels on the “North Country Ways”, with Norman Glowach on “Dance Among the Stars” and his own independent recordings.
I know Tom is still writing and recording his own music and performing whenever he gets the chance in his hometown of Thebacha, Fort Smith, NT. I sure hope I get a chance to work with Tom again further on down the road.”
‘Universal Music Machine, (UM2)’, Tom Dempsey, Brian Kovatch, Marc Whitford, Kevin Mackie, Tom Hudson, 1969, Yellowknife, NT (photo © 2018 NNSL.com)
'Rainbow Valley' L-R: Tom Hudson, Randy Demmon, Charles Kirkpatrick, Sandy Wilson, Kelly Tippet, 1975, Yellowknife, NT (Photo courtesy Tom Hudson)
More about Tom Hudson
“Isolation Bues” with the Komatiks.
One of the first, if not the first professional music video produced in the Northwest Territories. The band "The Komatiks" performed in Yellowknife from 1985-1988.
This video and caption courtesy of Percy Kinney and PAK Productions
“While working in TV in Yellowknife, I had the opportunity to direct and produce a weekly music video program called NORTH COUNTRY WAYS. Not only did Tom Hudson appear on the show a couple of times, he actually sang the program's theme song, written by the late Randy Daniels. His energy during the performance is contagious. Enjoy!”
Discography:
“Spirit of the Wind” with the Komatiks, 1987
“North Country Ways” with Randy Daniels/CBC, 1990
“Dance Among the Stars” with Norman Glowach, 1997