Thom Donovan is a contributor to American Songwriter and a recording artist. As a published songwriter he’s written for Kobalt and Nettwerk. He’s performed around the world with Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Robert Plant, Social Distortion, Will Hoge, and Ruby Amanfu. His most recent album, Timekeeper, was considered for three Grammy Awards in 2021. His first novel, The Twin Affair, was published on September 28, 2023. He lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
LONG FORM
Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Thom Donovan is a recording artist, songwriter, guitarist, and author currently living in Nashville, TN. His first novel, THE TWIN AFFAIR, was published by Pegasus on September 28, 2023. He contributes frequently to American Songwriter.
Donovan has released five solo albums and previously fronted the St. Louis-based indie rock band Lapush and the Nashville electronic duo Rossi with Kendall Morgan. Lapush performed on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC in 2005. He’s toured globally, opening for John Prine, Brandi Carlile, Robert Plant, Nine Inch Nails, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, and Social Distortion.
In 2013, he collaborated with Wyclef Jean from Fugees on “Shipwreck” (feat. Ruby Amanfu).
Donovan’s songs have appeared on CBS, ABC, and MTV—including The Good Wife and Body of Proof. He worked with Ruby Amanfu to produce a remake of the 1921 foxtrot “Ain’t We Got Fun” for an upcoming Disney film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer—due in the summer of 2024.
If life on a tour bus wasn’t strange enough, his music publisher introduced him to a casting agent, and this meeting led to a recurring role as a musician on the ABC musical drama Nashville for all six seasons.
Since moving to Nashville in 2010, Donovan has worked as a published songwriter for Kobalt and Nettwerk, music director and guitarist for Ruby Amanfu, guitarist for Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer), and recording and touring guitarist for Will Hoge.
His latest single, “Over the Sky,” is out now on AWAL.
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“Mellow tones / classic songwriting summer vibes for me—a forerunner to War on Drugs. Great tune this…”
—Phil Loutsis, AWAL
Thom Donovan 