# Tom Bukovac

Tom Bukovac (born December 20, 1968) is an American session guitarist and producer. He is also a popular YouTube personality with over 100,000 subscribers. He is a five-time winner of Music Row's Top Ten Album All-Stars award in the guitar category, in addition to being awarded the Academy Of Country Music's Electric Guitar Player of the Year in 2021, Guitar Player of the Year in 2010, 2014, and 2010, and he won Top Guitarist of the Year in 2008.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in nearby Willowick, Ohio. He has been a Nashville-based musician since 1992. He previously owned 2nd Gear, a used music consignment shop in South Nashville.

## Career

Bukovac began playing guitar at age eight.
He moved to Nashville in 1992 to pursue a career as a guitarist.
Bukovac has played on hundreds of albums, including projects by Dan Auerbach and The Black Keys, Hermanos Gutierrez, Glen Campbell, Gwen Stefani, Kid Rock, Morgan Wallen, Ann Wilson, The Struts, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Bob Seger, John Oates, Joan Osborne, Vince Gill, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Hank Williams Jr., Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Carrie Underwood, Richard Marx, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Florida Georgia Line, Lionel Richie, among many others.
Bukovac has toured with Ann Wilson (2022 - Fierce Bliss Tour), Joe Walsh (2017) – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 40th Anniversary Tour); Vince Gill (2016); John Fogerty; Faith Hill; Trigger Hippy; Wynonna Judd; Tanya Tucker, and others. Bukovac is currently a member of The Jim Irsay band.

### Solo work

In 2014, Bukovac produced Trigger Hippy's self-titled album, which was released by Rounder Records. Featured on this album alongside Bukovac are Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman (of Black Crowes) and Nick Govrik.
In 2021, Bukovac released his first solo album, Plexi Soul, an instrumental record featuring his guitar playing, produced by Chris McHugh and recorded and engineered and mixed by Shannon Forrest @ REELRECORDING1
In addition, Bukovac released the Trip The Witch instrumental record in 2021, along with Dean Deleo from STP. The record includes a track called Saturn We Miss You, with a vocal performance by Jon Anderson of Yes.
On May 1st 2024, Tom and fellow Nashville guitarist Guthrie Trapp released In Stereo, recorded (at least in part) at East Nashville's Cabin Studios.

## Personal life

In 2010, Bukovac married songwriter/artist Sarah Buxton. They have two children.
Bukovac and Buxton divorced in 2020.
On March 20, 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bukovac started the YouTube video series "Corona Lessons," which included 22 volumes. On April 8th of the same year, he launched a new series, "Homeskoolin'," which includes nearly 400 volumes as of January, 2025. Bukovac says all the videos are recorded with an iPhone in various locations throughout his home in Nashville, as well as other locales.

## Awards and nominations

Music Row Magazine Awards
| Year | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Top Ten Album All-Stars, Guitarist | Winner |
| 2006 | Top Ten Album All-Stars, Guitarist | Winner |
| 2007 | Top Ten Album All-Stars, Guitarist | Winner |
| 2008 | Top Ten Album All-Stars, Guitarist | Winner |
| 2009 | Top Ten Album All-Stars, Guitarist | Winner |
Academy of Country Music Awards
| Year | Category | Result |
| 2004 | Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
| 2005 | Top Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
| 2006 | Guitar Player of the Year | Nominee |
| 2007 | Top Guitarist of the Year | Nominee |
| 2008 | Top Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
| 2010 | Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
| 2012 | Guitarist of the Year | Nominee |
| 2014 | Guitar Player of the Year | Winner |
| 2016 | Guitarist of the Year | Winner |
| 2021 | Guitarist of the Year | Winner |