Thomm Jutz - About

About:

Thomm Jutz is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, and media composer celebrated for his profound contributions to American roots, bluegrass, and folk music.

Classically trained in Germany, Jutz’s lifelong dedication to country and bluegrass began at age eleven after hearing Outlaw legend Bobby Bare perform “Tequila Sheila” on television. Following his move to the United States he established himself in Nashville more than two decades ago, touring with artists including Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier, David Olney, and Kim Richey.

Renowned for his collaborative spirit, Jutz has released a wide range of co-creative projects with artists such as Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, Tammy Rogers (The SteelDrivers), Tim Stafford (Blue Highway), and Martin Simpson. His acclaimed albums To Live in Two Worlds, Volumes 1 & 2 (2020) combine ensemble and solo performances; Volume 1 earned a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album, making Jutz the first immigrant recognized in that category.

Among his notable recent work is Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry (2023, with Martin Simpson), a transatlantic exploration of the women who contributed to Cecil Sharp’s folk song collection featuring Sierra Hull, Odessa Settles, Angeline Morrison, and Tim O’Brien.

A cornerstone of Nashville’s creative community, Jutz has produced albums for Bill Anderson, Mac Wiseman, Todd Snider, and Nanci Griffith, among others. His songs - recorded by artists including John Prine, The SteelDrivers, Del McCoury, and Billy Strings - have topped Bluegrass charts and appeared in more than 250 film and television placements worldwide. He is a four-time nominee and 2021 winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Songwriter of the Year award.

Jutz studied classical guitar at the Conservatory of Music in Stuttgart and earned a master’s degree in Appalachian Studies from East Tennessee State University, where his thesis focused on Grammy-winning songwriter Norman Blake. His essays and scholarship have appeared in American Songwriter and the IBMA Songwriter’s Newsletter, and he has presented at multiple musical symposiums and conferences, including delivering the 2022 SERFA Keynote Address.

Featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit (2022–2023), Jutz continues to shape the next generation of songwriters as an instructor of songwriting at Belmont University.