Nationally acclaimed vibraphonist, drummer, keyboardist, and composer, Thomas Mackay was born in the Midwest of the USA, truly coming from rural America. At the early age of 7, he started to show interest in music and soon after started taking lessons on both piano and drums. At the age of 13,the family relocated to Arizona. There, Thomas’ parents enrolled him in local drum corps. Thomas was asked to assist in showing the kids in the corps the basic drum rudiments, as by that age he had a good grasp of the first 12 drum rudiments. Drum corps provided his first experience of learning how to write music as the drum corps entered marching competitions. Since the days of his youth, music as taken Thomas on a continual journey, both as a teacher, composer, and performer.

After spending a good majority of his life in the Midwest performing in symphony orchestras, Top 40 bands, and leading his own ensembles,Thomas relocated to Oregon in 1999 and continued to further his career as both a freelance drummer and jazz vibraphonist. He quickly started touring and performing as a keyboardist with Studio One reggae legend Norma Fraser. In 2002-2003 hetoured nationally as a percussionist with an Avant Garde ensemble based out of Portland Oregon, performing at large venues and festivals.In 2004, unfortunate health problems arose, and Thomas was unable to continue performing as a percussionist due to his hands not being able to hold mallets or drumsticks. Hethen refocusedon reggae keyboards and toured with the nationally known west-coast based band Synrgy. After several years with Synrgy, in 2010 Thomas completely retired from music due to continuing health issues. In 2012 the cause of his health issues was diagnosed as Celiac disease, and soon after, with the right treatments, he started his recovery and essentially, are-birth of his career. In 2013 he released a debut vibraphone recording, Jackson, on Hammond Beat Records and over the next 3 years put out 4 more recordings of jazz standards and original music. He also started to accept gigs as a freelance drummer. In 2015Thomas and his wife Sheral, moved to Oahu, Hawaii where he was soon intrenched in both the reggae andjazz scenes. He formed the ensemble IntoxiKA, performing exotica “tiki” music on vibraphone. In 2020 IntoxiKA was nominated for Best InstrumentalAlbum of the Year by the Na Hoku HanoHano awards, Hawaii’s version of the Grammy’s. In 2016 through 2020, IntoxiKA held down a weekly residency at the oldest tiki bar in Honolulu, La Mariana. He has performed in a vibraphone/piano duo with pianist Tommy James (director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra) as well as in groups with Percussionist Gerardo Velez (Jimi Hendrix and Spyro Gyra).
In late 2020, Thomas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which presentedhimwith new challenges.But that did not stop him. His Latin jazz group, Vibra Cubana,has performed at The Blue Note-Hawaii and in 2021 was nominated for Best Jazz Album of the Yearby the Na Hoku HanoHano awards. In 2021 he joined The Honolulu Witchez as drummer and started rehearsing weekly crafting original music written by Ceddie Blaze. He also plays reggae keyboards in the group RedDraw, with both groups performing around Oahu.
Turns out, diabetes was blessing in disguise. Today Thomas is stronger and more physically able to perform than ever beforeand is hitting harder thanever!Thomas continues to teach, both drums and vibraphone,all online,and has a weekly online presence, as he records tutorials and other talk-story sessions, addressing all aspects of the music industry. In 2021 he produced his first reggae artist, Lady Patrice, as engineer, composer and producer. Their album,Looking Forward, is nominatedin the reggae category byNa Hoku HanoHano awards.

The following companies endorse Mr. Thomas Mackay

Malletech Mallets and vibraphones
Alternate Mode, Malletkat and electronic percussion
Soultone cymbals
Sawtooth drums

Follow Thomas Mackay on these social formats

www.thomasmackay.net
www.intoxika808.com
www.reddrawmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20%22honolulu%20witchez%22
https://www.facebook.com/LadyPatriceMusicHawaii
https://www.instagram.com/oahu_dread/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQgioOWqJuFUbcf-mPRCK7g