Tom

Although Tom Quigley took two years of piano lessons starting at age seven, he didn't develop a real interest in music until late high school years. At first it was bands like 'Chicago' and 'Blood, Sweat, & Tears', but then came progressive rock ('Yes', 'ELP', 'Genesis' and 'Gentle Giant') and jazz-rock fusion ('Mahavishnu Orchestra', 'Weather Report', and 'Return to Forever'). Tom became fascinated with the sounds of synthesizers and started playing keyboards, and has played in numerous rock, blues, and country bands. In fact, Tom can now be heard playing keyboards for the contra dance band 'Wild Rose (and the Thorns)'.

While at college, Tom was introduced to bluegrass music and learned how to play guitar and mandolin during breaks between classes and homework. Influences were the 'Seldom Scene', the 'Country Gentlemen', 'Ricky Skaggs', and the 'New Grass Revival'. When Tom went to his first bluegrass festival and played in a parking lot pickin' jam session and heard all the instruments and vocals naturally blending together for the first time, he was hooked.

While spending four years out in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tom played in the 'Geels Family Band', which performed throughout northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. In 1988, Tom moved to the Binghamton area and soon joined 'Stateline'. At that time 'Stateline' consisted of Brian Miller, Joe Gana, Clint "Abie" Lainhart, and Carl Kithcart (who later went on to play banjo for the band 'Plexigrass'). After 'Stateline' broke up in the early 1990's, Tom met Jim Pritchard and they formed the 'Back Porch Majority' with two other musicians (which included Bud Fish on bass), however, this band was short-lived. Soon afterwards, Tom and Jim asked two of the founding members of 'Stateline' (Brian and Joe) to start that band back up again, and a fifth musician, Steve DeRiancho (who later went on to play banjo for the 'Morgan String Band') was added. This new version of 'Stateline' lasted into the latter part of the 1990's.

After the second version of 'Stateline' ended, Tom took some time off from bands, other than sitting in informally with several bands, and attended numerous jam sessions, such as the Java Joe Jammers. During these jam sessions, Tom became more acquainted with Celtic and Folk music styles, as well as various other styles of fiddle music. Tom met Phil Greenfield and Paul St. Clair (a.k.a., Slick Riddles) at these jams. During 2002, Jim learned of an opportunity to play music on a regular basis at a café that was opening in Binghamton, and that was the beginning of 'Tom, Phil, and Jim'. Soon, Slick became a regular member of the band and the band's name was changed to 'Square Deal'. During the summer of 2004 Slick decided to leave the band and Phil had to leave the area for work reasons. Tom and Jim continued to play as a duet under the name 'Square Deal' and soon afterwards Rob Siegers, on banjo, joined the band. In early 2005 Marie Shaver had also joined the band, playing the bass.

Besides playing in ‘Square Deal’, Tom can be found playing in several other bands in the Binghamton area. ‘Wild Rose (and the Thorns)’ is a contra dance band whose original members are Amy Shapiro, Beth Hogan and Phil Greenfield. After Phil left allen lutins joined the band. ‘String Band Central’ is a band that plays mostly Celtic and Appalachian style fiddle music whose members are Amy Shapiro, Beth Hogan and Tim and Johanna Masters. Tom maintains a web site containing more information about ‘Square Deal’, ‘Wild Rose (and the Thorns)’, ‘String Band Central’. The ‘Auxilliary’ is a folk band that plays music with a slight political slant, whose members are Laura Lamash, Charlene Thomson, and Rob Siegers. ‘Susquehanna River Band’ is a band that plays mostly folk music, whose members are John Van Loke, Dannielle Swart, Jim Pritchard, and Marie Shaver. Most recently, Tom and Marie have started performing as a duet, calling themselves Tom & Marie.

Tom also occasionally plays with two of his brothers (Mike and Sean) and his Dad (Tom) in a family band called the "We Got Rhythm Band" up towards the Rochester, NY area. This band covers the dance tunes of the ‘30s and ‘40s as well as some more contemporary covers.