Thomm Jutz


Thomm Jutz is a German-born American singer, songwriter, producer, and guitar player, based in Nashville, Tennessee.
He has worked with Grammy-winning folk singer Nanci Griffith, Grammy nominees Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, Americana star Mary Gauthier, Grand Ole Opry members and/or Country Music Hall of Fame inductees: Mac Wiseman, Bobby Bare, Connie Smith and Marty Stuart, veteran troubadour David Olney, Otis Gibbs, Kim Richey, Bill Anderson, Amy Speace, Milan Miller and German vocalist Marc Marshall.
His songs have been recorded by Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Kim Richey, Junior Sisk, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Balsam Range, Buddy Melton, Milan Miller and Terry Baucom.
Jutz co-wrote the top two singles of 2016 listed on the Bluegrass Today Airplay chart.
Jutz signed with Mountain Home Music Company in 2019. New albums “To Live In Two Worlds - Vol 1 & 2” will be released in 2020. Singles “Mill Town Blues”, “I Long To Hear Them Testify”, “Hartford’s Bend” and “Jimmie Rodgers Rode A Train” were released in 2019. He also signed as a writer with Asheville Music Publishing in 2018.

Early life

Jutz originates from Neusatz, Buehl, Baden-Wurttemberg in the Black Forest of Germany and started playing music at the age of six, initially learning piano and flute.
In 1981 at age 11 he saw country artist Bobby Bare on a German television program performing Detroit City and, inspired by the way Bare stood and held his guitar, took up the guitar and developed an interest in Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music.
Jutz won several nationwide competitions as a teenager before studying classical guitar at the University of Stuttgart under professor Dr. Mario Sicca. Jutz played throughout Central Europe with Blues and Rock Bands, and began studying songwriting and studio engineering.

Career

In 2003, Jutz was granted a Diversity Immigrant Visa into the USA and moved his base to Nashville, where he immediately found favor and started touring worldwide with David Olney, Mary Gauthier and Nanci Griffith.
Jutz then set up as owner and operator of TJ Tunes, the studio he created for writers, players and artists from different places and genres to come together in a relaxed, rural setting, to write and record. He has produced over 70 albums to date, including 8 albums by British singer-songwriter Roger Knott.

The 1861 Project

Between 2011 and 2014, Jutz produced and wrote songs for the three volumes of The 1861 Project, a collection of new songs inspired by the people who fought and lived through the American Civil War.
Artists featured on these albums include Marty Stuart, John Anderson, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connell, Connie Smith, Chris Jones, Sierra Hull, Bobby Bare, Jason Ringenberg, Kim Richey and Hannah & Caroline Melby. The series received praise from historians, critics, music lovers and Civil War enthusiasts.

"I Sang The Song"

During 2016, Jutz, together with Peter Cooper and 91-year-old country music legend Mac Wiseman, spent nine Sunday afternoons at Wiseman's house writing material based on the stories Wiseman would tell of his life.
In January 2017, Mountain Fever Records released these songs on the "I Sang The Song" album, produced by Jutz and Cooper. Friends and admirers performing on the album include John Prine, Alison Krauss, Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Camp, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Andrea Zonn and Mark Fain.

Discography

Solo albums

Jutz's song Burning The Midnight Oil, co-written with Peter Cronin, appears on.

Awards and recognition

IBMA 2019 International Bluegrass Music Awards – nomination for Songwriter of the Year
IBMA 2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards – nomination for Songwriter of the Year
IBMA 2017 International Bluegrass Music Awards – 4 nominations
SESAC 2013 Nashville Music Awards for contributions to the album Thorn In My Heart recorded by Kim Richey
SESAC 2009 Americana Performance Activity Award for contribution to the album The Loving Kind recorded by Nanci Griffith
Member of IBMA Leadership Bluegrass class of 2015
Member of Nashville's Leadership Music class of 2013