Latest News

5/1/13

Starting the booking process for school assemblies for the next school year- beginning in the fall.  Once again my "No Bullying Allowed! " school assembliy programs are going great guns.  Word has been gitting around that these assemblies really work.  They provide concrete tools for both teachers & students to hel them deal effectively with this annoying problem- and they do it in a sometimes humorous & entertaining way.  Hard to imagine this topic can be funny & in it self it's not.  But sometimes humor 7 song help make the message stick.  My new sidekick Vel Crow ( he really US a crow!) - does most of the clowning around.  He's a little nutty but, in his own way, he helps deliver a much needed message.

4/1/13

Sailing along with the wind on my back.  Library gigs are coming into place for the summer & now I'm looking for one or 2 end-of-the-Year school assemblies- for anywhere in the Mudwest.  I love these types of shows- as they are miostly entertainment with lkots of good music & storytelling.  they are like a reard to the students & stsff for having worked hard & then having had a great year.  Ut's a pleasire & an honor to perform at these schools where there's lots of  hard work, dedication & cooperation that come into play for a successful school year.  Now we can celebrate & have a good time.  We are family......!!

3/1/13

In like a Lion.... out like......another lion....???  What happened to spring?  It's freezing out there!!!  School assemblies are going great.  I've been on the road a lot & the shows just keep getting better & better.

2/1/13

Valentines Day!  Wow!  Four gigs & I'm criss crossing the state.  Each one was better than the one before.  Perfect day.  I love you!

1/1/13

Yippee!  New year....new beginnings...new surprises...new places...new  friends...& new music.  WhAt else is new?

12/1/12

'Tis the season....What a blast- & not just the cold weather.  My christmas shows are bigger & better than ever.  Plus, I've completed writing all of the material for an all new Vegas Christmas blues CD.  Just need the funding 7 it'll be good to go.  Any angel investors out there who want to get in on what looks to be an amazing new Christmas blues CD?  I only need aboutr $20,000 to cover the entire budget including some amazing 1st rate musicians & promotion by one of the best blues based promoters in the biz.  Merry Christmas & Vegas Baby!

11/1/12

Starting to book the Vegas Man Christmas shows.  Sweet!  Last year i introduced a show on this end called "Copper Tom Does Christmas".  They went well.  In many cases, I did them at libraries where Vegas was doing his "Christmas Extravaganza" too.  They went over well & were a lot of fun for me to do.  Wonder if those will be requested agian this year/  Hope so!

10/1/12

The school assemblies are going great.  In addition to those I get on my own, my godd friend- agent Don Newman gets me a few threough his agency- Dynamic West..  It's a pleasure working with Don!

9/1/12

Wow!  Is it just about fall already?  Go Blue!

8/1/12

Great summer.  Library shows have been going great!

7/1/12

Summer's in full swing!  While I love all of the seasons, I have to say this is my fave. Love the warmth, love the sunshine, love the long days. And seeing the Tigers are hanging in there- sort of....well, that helps too.  And this summer, except for brief trips to Wisconsin, Indiana & Ohio, I've been able to do most of my work right here in Michigan..  It's been odd for me that - professionally- I am almost better known out of state than I am right here.  I'm not complaining as I love to perform & I love going to new places & meeting friendly people across the land.  But now, that's slowly changing & I'm getting more work closer to home - which is nice.  Now, it's mostly libraries.  Most of them particpate in a Summer Reading Program where they encourage kids on summer vacation to read & to enjoy the library.  What could be better for me?  I love libraries & I love reading & so I love perfoming in this particular venue.  At the same time, I'm preparing for the school assembly season which is not too  far away.  I'm always working to make my shows better, more entertaining & more effective.  In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying your summer too!  See you next time!

6/1/12

People often ask me, Copper Tom, how did you happen to get into the edutainment business?  As many of you know, I am a former teacher with extensive experience as an elementary & middle school teacher.  I also have an advanced degree in education with an MA in education from the University of Michigan..  Also, having School of Education doctural candidacy, I have all of my coursework completed toward a PHD in education as well.  So, to some degree i know teaching & understand the issues that face educators in today;s world.  Plus, I love teaching & am able to incorporate successful elements of pedagogy into my perfomances.  But, you know, for as long as I was a teacher, I almost always had a guitar in the classroom & made music a part of the weekly curriculum.  And as much as I loved teaching, i loved music too.  When I developed into becoing a songwriter, I recorded two children's music CDs. And when I started to win national awards for my CDS, I made the trasnsition to being a full time children's music performer.  Subsequently, i deveoped my skills as a professional storyteller as well- & the rest is history.  Now i have the best of both worlds.  I am a full time musician/ storyteller who gets to spend a lot of time in some very special schools across this great country of ours.  Will I be in your school this year?  i certainly hope so.  Let's make it happen!  Have a great day & see you next time.

5/1/12

Hi Everyone!  How are you doing?  I've got some special news for my school clients.  I am unveiling a brand new school prgram format beginning this fall.  The offering is tentatively called  ASSEMBLY-IN-A BOX®.  With this format I visit indivual classrooms presenting a condensed assembly program up close for your students.  There are still great songs, comedy & often a story- all with a clear message & followed by a short Q & A session.  And the best part, i can often offer this type of senario to your school at a price that is even lower than my current popular school wide assmbly programs!  Call for details & give this type of format consideration for your school.  In many ways it is less disruptive of your normal daily schedul & does not require as much set -up time on my end,  so i can spend more time in the classrooms- delivering edutainment in a more direct & purposeful way.  I'm excited about this new format & hope you are too.  If I've done my larger auditorium shows at your school before, Maybe you'd like to try something different next year.  And if you haven't, you always have the option of going either way- traditional school-wide prgograms - or the new classroom- to-classroom presentation.  Either way, it's Copper Tom- the teacher with a guitar - giving you one of the best shows in the acedemic entertainment markketplace.  See you soon!

4/1/12

Greetings Dear Friends!  Spring is springing & it couldn't be more beautiful to see!  Hope it is equally as nice in your neck of the woods.  It looks like a robust ending to this wonderful school year with shows scheduled in Michigan, Ohio & Wisconsin..  But don't hesitate to call as there are many attractive dates still open for specail performancea at your school, library or special event.. In partivular, my popular Copper Tom End-of-the-Year Celebration might be perfect for your school & some good dates are still avaikable.  Hope to hear from YOU & to see you soon between now & summer!

3/1/12

Wow! Spring seerms to have sprung & it's not even officially here yet!  the nice weather has me thinking about my show WATER.WATER EVERYWHERE!.  It's a popular favorite during this time of year & I'll be travelling east to , New York, Massachusetts & Pennsylvania-  & then  back again through Ohio  This show includes many of my original tunes including Goin'Fishin', At the Swimming Pool & My Friend.  You can see my videos fo0r several of these songs on my YouTube channel.  http://www.youtube.com/user/coppertomrocks/videos  If you haven't seen these videos yet, you may want to take a look.  They were made by my talented friend Dan Niehuis & have been seen and adored by many. And, If you are in the Northeast, I still have some open dates for the weeks of April 16 & 23- so give me a call at 734-971-3100 & let's set something up while there is still time.  Hope to see you then!

2/1/12

It's almost Valentine's Day.  My heart goes out to you & to all of the wonderful people who have supported me throughout the years.  Happy Valentine's Day to you & yours...& , if you haven't firmed up your booking for 2012, let's do it ASAP.  Hope to see YOU in the coming year.  Stay well & see you again real soon.

1/1/12

Kicking back now after a very busy 2011.  What a year!  I went to many new locales- from New Hampshire to South Dakota- with many stops in between.  Now, I'm working on some new school assemblies for 2012.  Can't wait to viisit YOUR town with the Copper Tom School Assembly Programs- or the Copper Tom Summer Reading Program Show. I'm adding new venues- for school, libraries, day care centers & campgrounds every day & I've always got room for one more.  See you here next time......

12/1//11

Doing my new show Copper Tom Does Christmas at venues in Minnesota & South Dakota.  So far so good.  This is a combination of my original music along with secular Christmas favorites- mostly about Santa, Rudoplh, Frosty, snow- &/or just plain Christmas Fun!  So far the show has been really well received.  At some venues I did my Mr. Vegas Man family show- Hey Santa! at the same venue for families & seniors- & the combination of the 2 shows was a big hit.  Now, there's still 2 more weeks in this wonderful season...so gotta go for now.  See you again real soon!

11/1/11

I couldn't resist posting this a day later this month in order to get this unusal date.  Did you know it will take a hundred more years from now to be able to write the date thisexact  way again?  And while the listing & numbers will be the same, in reality it will be a hundred years later than now.  Be sure to come back then & see this date listed this exact same way then!

Some of you have asked about the stories i tell during my shows.  I have two of them now.  One is called Fox's Sack.  It's derived from an English folk tale & the version I use is derived from one told by Bill Harley.  It is a cool story about a fox who tries to outwit & coerce others- only to be outwitted himself & to receive his own comeupance in a surprising & funny way.  I use this mainly for primary school grade age kids- that is pre-K to grade 2.  It has a lot of repetitions in the delivery- that the kids can eventually join in on - & the characters are interesting & memorable.  A complete citation is availble for those who would like to use the written version in some way- as a follow-up- &/or to reinforce a whole language approach to my presentation.

The other story is called The Sea of Gold.  It is an amazing Japanese folk tale of a young man's life a s a cook on a fishing boat.  In the berginning he is taunted & made fun of- by his shipmates- but after a remarkbale & unexpected turn of events,  he gains the respect he deserves- & much more- in this wonderful & impecable tale.  I generally use this one more for intermediate grades- but like the fomer, it is a univeral yarn- suitable for all ages - including adults.

I have been asked- how do I chose a story & how do I perpare it to be told?  First, I am always on the look-out for tha next great story to tell.  It must be near perfect - in it's use of language, in its narrative & in its univeral appeal.  Once I've found the story I learn it word for word,  If it is really well written- as these stories are- every word, every phrase will be set down for a reason- both logically & aesthetically.  When a story is this perfect, i find no reason to change it- or how it is told.  This memorization procesds is tedious & it takes many months to learn a story & then more time to hone its delivery. But  seeing  the looks of astonishment & joy on the kids' faces- when it all comes together & is told - makes the work on my end - well worth it.

If you have heard me tell one of these stories, won't you let me know what your experince was in hearing it?  You can send me an e-mail- or enter a comment onto the Reviews Page of this website.  And if you haven't heard these tales, let's fix that too.  Hope to see YOU & your group & to tell my wonderul stories when i viisit your school or library this year - or in the not-to-distant future.  

Stay well & see you next time!

10/10/11

Copper Tom took his No Bullying Allowed! assemblies to the great states of Minnesota, Iowa & Indiana!  Beautiful places- lovely schools with high energy leadership from administration & teachers & energetic, engaged students- who were truly a pleasure to interact with.  This shows just keeps getting better & better.  Responses from students & staff alike are positive & rewarding.  It is gratifying to know you may have made a differnce for a single student- let alone an entire staff & student body,  If your school hasn't experienced this program yet, please take the time to inquire & find out when Copper Tom is coming your way.  Next stops: Akron, Ohio; Arbor, Michigan; Brazil, Indiana; & Michigan City, Indiana. Call today & make arrangements for Copper Tom to bring this dynamic show to your school this year. 

9/10/11

The Chicago area & Wisconsin were very good to me.  Except for the seemingly endless highway tolls in the Chicago area- & the high cost of gas there- everything went well on this tour & every show was satisfyting & well received.  The MIlwaukee area was a joy to visit- & the red-hot Brewersa won 18 out of 20 when I was there- so they might want to have me back - if only for the good luck I may have brought them.  In Green Bay, I visited the amazing Lambeau Field & learned more about Vince Lombardi & their storied NFL franchise.  Some there may have expected me to jum ship but now they know- Copper Tom is still a Detroit Lion fan & proud to stay that way-do or die.  But I do have a new found respect for the Packers & for the amazing people of Green Bay. Of course nothing will top our allegiance to the University of Michigan.  Yet most in Green Bay  couldn't understand how a small town's dedication to a college football team could match theirs for the Packers.  Still I tried to impress on them- that while Lambeau is a beautiful venue- it is a tad small & viewing it in comparison to the Big House- In size & capacity - it looks something  like seeing a doll house in comparison to  to - say- the New York Public Library., though still cute & serviceable as it is. Go Blue!

8/10/11

Had a great time in New York & Penssylvania.  Nice countryside.  Nice people.  Next stop - Chicago, Milwaukee & Green Bay.  Filling up the fall Copper Tom School Assembly Tour-  though many good dates are still available.  Most popular show this fall: No Bullying Allowed! 

7/10/11

The Copper Tom 2011 Summer Tour is under way!  So far i've been to the Columbus, Ohio area.  I enjoyed being at the Cardington, Ohio Public Library & also at  the Chesterville, Ohio Public Library.  In betweeen I visited several day cares & learning centers.  Since then I've traveled around Michigan - going to the west coast on 2 occasions & soon to the Kindercare in Novi, Mi.  After that, I'll be headed out to libraries in Bradford, Pa, Lima N.Y. & then to Sodus, NY before heading back to the Columbus/Dayton Ohio area.  If i haven't been to your school or library yet- please let me know & we can set something up ASAP.  Hope to see YOU soon!

4/1/11

If you need a web site, I know a place where you can get an amazing site via great service & at a reasonable price.  The site is  http://a2webs.com/ .  One of the best things about the sites made here is that they give you the ability to edit your oqwn website as much as you want without having to go back again & again to the designer & paying additional fees each time you do. I highly recomm http://a2webs.com/ for anyone who needs an effective & aesthetically pleasing site at an affordable price.  Tell them Copper tom sent you!

3/1/11

Did you know I have download cards of my CDs?  These are convenient cards that allow a complete download of each of my CDs.  They have a pucture of the CD on the front & a secret code which allows you to download the entire CD.  They are avaialble for my inaugural CD Jump Around! & also for my recent- award-winning CD - Get the Beat!  I can autograph the cards & they make real nice prizes, give-a-ways & so forth at a very reasonable cost.  The cards are usually $10 each & I have them at all of my shows.  For the month of March I am offering them for just $5 each if you contact me through the website & mention this offer.  Just one caveat- you must order at least 4 cards to qualify for free S & H.  So order now & stock up for your next raffle or as reards for any job well done.  They are fun, convenient & make great souvenirs too!

2/15/11   

Alex Montano makes amazing web sites- like this one- where the client- like me- can make changes & updates on the site on his/her own- without having to needlessly involve Alex & thus incur additional costs.  He is amzing- personally & professionally.  Vist him at   http://a2webs.com/ for more  info & for a great deal.  Tell him Copper Tom sent you!

1/31/11

I want to acknowledge here a special person- Alex Montano- a living angel to me- if there ever was one.  He is the brains & braun behind this beautiful website.  He is an amazing being.- a truly modest person- a loving family man- who also happens to be very talented & giving.  He made a a great impact on me & my family.  I telll more of his story & how he impacted our lives on my companion site  http://www.mrvegasman.com/   For those of you who are reading this ( I assume that would be YOU ) & didn't know, I have an alter-ego.  I am also Mr. Vegas Man.  Have you heard of me?  I like to ask that question.......usually getting the same quizzical blank stare of incomprehension.  But let me assure you- I am he- the one & only.  In that personna I sing to adults & famiies- as kids are welcome there too.  It's music & comedy - but strictly G-Rated- fun for the whole family  & for the Fun-At-Heart..  Anyway, my blog there chronicles some of the true story of the amazing Alex Montano - how he enterred my life & how he came to create this fine, fine website.  Peace & love always to Alex & to his family!

1/15/11

Copper Tom is currently organizing his 2011 Summer Reading Program Library Tour. “It’s a Wonderful World!” is a 45 minute show of original music & comedy by Copper Tom. Also included are folk songs & children’s songs that lend themselves to the national theme of “One World, Many Stories”. This is fun-filled, & highly interactive, children’s entertainment - that emphasizes common social values in a context of cultural diversity. There will also be a featured story that a fits this year’s theme as well. God dates for 2011 are still available.

The Copper Tom 2010-2011 School Assembly Program is off to a great start. Bookings are being taken now for the current 2011 school year– for shows in Michigan & in adjoining states - & will soon be open for the 2011-2012 school year for bookings throughout the U.S. The Copper Tom School Assembly Program offers entertainment, education & inspiration through music, comedy & stories. The show conveys a theme of positive self reflection and social unity with an emphasis on character development. The goal is to present fun-filled & interactive children’s entertainment in a way that nurtures educational discovery in a spirit of respect & harmony.

Welcome!

Copper Tom  here.  Thanks for visiting me.  You’ll find information here about my music, my videos & all about my live shows.  Hope you enjoy your time here & find what you’re looking for.  Be sure to sign up on my e-mail list & I’ll contact you personally with all the latest Copper Tom  news.  If you have questions or would like to inquire about a booking, please call me in Ann Arbor, Michigan at  734-971-3100- or go to the BOOK HIM! Contact Page & send your comment from there or e-mail me l me directly at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    Thanks again for stopping by & I hope you enjoy your visit.