Tom Abella
Biography
Self-taught Colombian guitarist Tom Abella started playing at the age of 18. Only 3 years later, he was already teaching guitar in an elementary school in his native Bogota. Around 1993, Abella put together his first cover band and had already started making a living as a musician playing at bars when he wan the first Electric Guitar Festival contest, in Colombia. This award gave him the opportunity to be known in Bogotá’s music scene. Tom Abella made his big debut in the first “Rock Al Parque” festival, In 1995, quickly positioning himself as the first and then only guitarist with a Progressive Instrumental Rock proposal, in Colombia. In 2000 Abella became the first electric guitar teacher at the National Pedagogical University of Colombia, where he worked as director of the electric instruments area until 2006 and simultaneously also as a teacher at the District University, until 2011. He also recorded an instructional DVD clinic called "Guitar Skills" in 2005, for "Artefacto Producciones", in Bogota.
After multiple years touring Latin America and the United States, he’s now residing permanently in New York City, where he is teaching guitar and bass at renowned institutions like The School of Rock and Rock Island Sound.
Discography
Abella recorded his first self-produced work on a 4-channel studio port, named “ RACKNAROCK ”in 1997.
In 1999 he produced his first CD titled “Nacidos Para La Batalla” (Born to battle), the first Progressive Rock album recorded in Colombia in the last century.
In 2005 he released his third album Tinitus and simultaneously the first electric guitar instructional DVD in Colombia entitled “Guitar Skills”. In 2008
In 2011 Abella is summoned to tour the east coast of the United States paying tribute to Chuck Shuldiner.
In 2016 Abella released his fourth album entitled "The Architech of The Universe" at that year’s NAMM Show.
Sponsors
Abella was sponsored for the first time by a guitar company and was one of the first Latin artists sponsored by the company "Shecter”.
In 2013 he is sponsored by the guitar company “Fernandes” and the strings “DR. Strings. In 2014 he signed a contract with the English amplifier company "Laney" who later sponsored his Latin America promotional tour.
In 2015 Abella was invited to the NAMM Show in California, where he signs an exclusive contract with the renowned string company "DAddario”, and starts partnering prestigious Italian company "EKO Guitars”. Eko offered to build him a signature model, the “Tom Abella Eko Fire”. Simultaneously, the pedal company “Mooer pedals” makes him the first western-world artist sponsored by the Asian company. Abella is also sponsored by “Eminence Speaker”, as well as pick-ups’ company "Fishman”. He’s also sponsored by "Tension Picks."
Abella has opened for and shared stage with the following artists:
Dream Theater
Billy Sheehan
Alex Skolnick
Kiko Loureiro
Marc Rizzo
Frank Gambale
Pablo Soler