Born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, a city 10 miles north of Boston, Tom learned to play the guitar at the early of age of 6 and began playing for family and friends, who were kind to him, at the time. When Tom attended St. Mary's High School, Tom played regularly for the weekly "Folk Mass" held in the chapel at St. Mary's Church. During High School Tom played rhythm guitar for a rock band, (go figure), that played regularly at school functions.