Consummate folksinger, children's book author, and composer, Tom Paxton continues to look at life's ups and downs, sometimes poignantly, sometimes in hilarious detail. An integral part of folk music since arriving in Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, via Chicago and Oklahoma, Tom has been a primary influence on three distinct generations of folk musicians and is now being "discovered" by a fourth. Whether addressing issues of injustice and inhumanity, laying bare the absurdities of modern culture, or celebrating the bonds of family, friends, and community, Tom's songs -- "Ramblin' Boy," "The Last Thing on My Mind," "Bottle of Wine," and "What Did You Learn in School Today," to name but a few -- endure.

These days, Tom writes a bit more about growing older (inspired by his own life), as well as younger (inspired by his grandson). Two of his most recent albums, the 2003 children's ablum Your Shoes,My Shoes and last year's Looking for the Moon (Appleseed) were both nominated for Grammies, and he just added a Lifetime Achievement Award fromthe BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards to his long list ofaccolades and honors. Last summer's The Compleat Tom Paxton (Compleater) (Rhino Handmade), recorded live at The Bitter End in 1970, attests to Tom's superb artistry and the witty, genial spirit he always brings to the stage.

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