Tom Kimmel

by Tom DemalonAlthough he has developed a following for his own releases over the course of a 20-year career, Tom Kimmel has had more success landing tracks on albums by better-known artists. Born in Memphis, TN, and raised in rural Alabama, Kimmel graduated from the University of Alabama and relocated to Nashville in the early '80s. Early credits as a songwriter came his way when his songs were cut by ex-Byrds Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman, as well as the Band's Levon Helm. Kimmel recorded two albums as a solo artist for Polygram, 1987's 5 to 1 and 1990's Circle Back Home. "That's Freedom," pulled as a single from 5 to 1, managed to make the Hot 100 singles chart, but was a bigger hit for Australian star John Farnham, who scored a number one with it at home. In 1993, Kimmel released a compilation, Don't Look Back, through his own label, Point Clear, and followed it a year later with the live-acoustic Bones. As of the 2000s, Kimmel remained an active songwriter and performer, having seen his songs covered by artists like Joe Cocker, Johnny Cash, Stray Cats, Maura O'Connell, the Spinners, and Linda Ronstadt.