Tom Hazuka

This musical adventure is something new for me. I wrote my first song in 1978 while in the Peace Corps in Chile, and since then have written over 170 more, but I’ve never made much of an effort to get them out to listeners. Sure, I played the occasional open mic, and upon request (usually my wife Christine’s) sometimes sang a few tunes for her or for guests at our house, but that’s about it. Even after I joined the Connecticut Songwriters Association in 2004 I used the feedback from other writers to improve my songs, but didn’t actually do much with them.

That began to change in 2011. First, my songs “White Squares” and “It Stands to Reason” appeared on Voices Raised: Songs of Social Relevance, a Connecticut Songwriters Association’s compilation CD. Second, I met Joe Gaudette at a CSA meeting. Actually, I didn’t really meet him that night; I was just thoroughly impressed by the music of the tune he offered for critique. I wrote some ideas for polishing the lyrics, along with my email address, in hopes that he might get in touch and want to try collaborating. Fortunately, Joe liked my suggestions, emailed me the next day, and we spent the next nine months crafting and recording songs together.

Recently, Joe decided that he doesn't have the time to continue putting so much effort into music, a decision I certainly understand and respect.   So our partnership is over, at least for the time being.  (Never say never, right?)  Collaboration with Joe was an extremely rewarding musical experience; I learned a lot and enjoyed every minute.  Now it's time for the next chapter.  I have a likely new songwriting partner, and continue to work on new tunes.  I hope you enjoy them, and cordially invite you to accompany me on this journey.

In case you’re interested:

I grew up in Westbrook, Connecticut, graduated from Fairfield University, and spent nearly three years with the Peace Corps in Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship. Later I went to the University of California at Davis (M.A.) and the University of Utah (Ph.D.). Currently I teach fiction writing at Central Connecticut State University.

If you like my music, you might want to check out my books. I’ve published three novels, The Road to the Island, In the City of the Disappeared, and Last Chance for First, as well as a nonfiction book on the NCAA basketball tournament (co-written with C.J. Jones), A Method to March Madness: An Insider’s Look at the Final Four. I’ve also co-edited the short story anthologies Flash Fiction, A Celestial Omnibus: Short Fiction on Faith, You Have Time for This, and Sudden Flash Youth. I’m in the process of editing a new anthology, Flash Fiction Funny.