Tom McDermott is one of New Orleans' premier piano players and composers. He grew up in St. Louis, where he earned a Masters' Degree in Music, wrote music journalism for the morning paper, and soaked up the sounds of ragtime and traditional jazz that flourished there in the 1960s and 70s. In 1984, spurred by his love of James Booker, Professor Longhair and Dr. John, he moved to New Orleans. He has since established a remarkable performing career there and around the world, and has released 15 CDs, written for the theater, acted in movies, and played himself in three seasons of the New Orleans-based HBO series Treme.