After studying guitar and piano at the Berklee College of Music he dropped out to play top 40 music. He played on numerous Boston-area recording sessions, including projects with Ric Ocasek, Ben Orr and Greg Hawkes (THE CARS), Warren Leslie, Sam Houston Andrews (Big Brother And The Holding Company), and many others. After touring with the ESTES BOYS in the '70's, Tom played with FAIR, YATES AND BETSCHART, a trio performing an eclectic mix of pop, folk and art rock music to standing-room only crowds. He won the Guitar Center's 2007 King of the Blues competition in Northeast Region. Recently he has performed with saxophonist Charles Neville of the legendary Neville Brothers Band and New Orleans vocalist Henri Smith in a great New Orleans rhythm & blues group. Tom was the lead guitarist and vocalist with the Paisley Project, a 60's & 70's pop, psychedelic rock, and Motown band. In his collection of over 25 vintage and custom guitars Tom selects a '63 Strat and a '68 Les Paul Custom as his favorites. Tom gets inspiration from the work of Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Danny Gatton, Lenny Breau, Johnny Winter, Buckethead, Eric Clapton, David Lyndley, Les Paul, Peter Green, and Chet Atkins.

The Workingman's Duo was formed in 2006 when bassist Rick Maida and Tom Yates met at the Acton Jazz Cafe blues jam sessions where Tom played guitar with the host band and Rick sat in. They began performing as a duo hosting a weekly open mic night at Concord's Colonial Inn exploring their common musical repertoire ranging from the 1950's and 60's country, rock, pop, country and blues. They have been performing together regularly since then as a duo, trio and backing band for many other musicians in area concerts and nightclubs.