About Tommy Dougherty
Liner Notes from Touch My Soul
Tommy Dougherty was born in Corpus Christi, Texas while being a Libra and one of five children. When Tommy was three years old his family moved from Corpus Christi spending the next twelve years moving throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
Living in Houston, Texas, Tommy bought his first guitar at the age of 15. His mother, backing his musical interests, showed him the first chords on his new instrument. Tommy kept practicing and within two years his musical career was on its way when he began entertaining in local night clubs. Not satisfied with playing only the guitar, he expanded his talents by mastering the piano and organ. For the next few years, Tommy spent his time working in clubs throughout the South. He then formed a successful band known as The New Soul, Inc. whose drummer, Hop Hoppkins, was formerly with Junior Parker.
In 1969, Tommy moved to Nashville for a while, but then moved back to Texas, this time locating in Dallas where he formed a group with Billy Tilman, who is now a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears. Tommy 'paid' his dues, as do most musicians and entertainers, by doing his share of road gigs.
Nashville was still on his mind, so in May of 1973, Tommy moved back to "Music City" with his wife Patsy and son Paul. In Nashville he joined the Mercy Blues Band, furthered his writing interests by writing for the House of Cash and also did session work for Odyssey Productions. Noticing Tommy's talent, Odyssey Productions recently signed him as an artist and writer. As his previous experience proves, Tommy can capture his audience in any type of singing - pop, folk, country, gospel, you name it - he is an all around entertainer.
Tommy is really an outdoorsman with his favorite pastime being fishing and camping. Everyone has their favorite artist, and Tommy especially enjoys Ray Charles, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the late Coltrane and Otis Redding.
This is the first album for Emerald Records, and we believe that the swinging gospel sounds that emanate from this disc will please all age groups.
Tommy Dougherty was born in 1941 and currently lives in retirement in Texas. After recording Touch My Soul and Tommy Dougherty for Odyssey Productions, he went on to sing on countless commercials and various recordings in Nashville as a successful session vocalist. He continued to write and play nightclubs.
Besides his love for fishing and camping, Tommy has always been a reader of philosophical themes and a proponent for human and animal rights, as well as a proponent for the legalization of marijuana and other drugs. A true relic of the 60s, he's maintained his artistic vision and promotion of the expansion of human consciousness while others (but of course not all) from those times have sold out by embracing the value of profit.
A famous quote from a Music Row exec goes, "Art is for the fucking walls." Well, tell that to the lovers of Coltrane, Brother Ray, Dylan, Nick Drake and Townes to name a few. Listen to these recordings by Tommy Dougherty and make up your own mind.
Also enjoy the music from Tommy's son Paul Dougherty, singer & songwriter, at PaulDougherty.org
