Tom and Carole Norulak

Tom and Carole Norulak have been performing their unique brand of Folk Music for over 16 years. Their concerts featured American music: traditional songs and tunes; historical songs, including some from Western Pennsylvania; contemporary and original songs. Some are serious ballads, some real tear-jerkers, some lighthearted in nature. Whatever the song, you can be sure that Tom and Carole enjoy the music they perform. And, they enjoy sharing that music with anyone willing to listen--or better yet, to sing along.

Tom started playing the accordion during his childhood in New Jersey. The music of his Slovak roots is as important to him as the lusty songs of this country. His vocal stylings are delivered with great verve and theatricality. Though he delights in all types of traditional and contemporary music, he has an absolute passion for old-time country and western. As an instrumentalist, he has taken the accordion far beyond "Lady of Spain" and enjoys playing Irish jigs and reels; old-timey fiddle tunes; New England contradance melodies and "polkas and polkas and waltzes, oh my!"

Carole has been singing folk songs and playing her "whompety-whompety" 1960's style of folk guitar for over thirty years. Years of singing and researching have netted her a vast repertoire of songs. Some are familiar, some obscure, some of the fut ure folk song genre. Her favorites, though, are those which are strongly expressive--so drippingly sentimental they may cause giggles, so evocative of times past they bring a tear to the eye. In 1979 Carole discovered the hammered dulcimer. Entirely self-taught on this instrument, she is always willing to share a tip with new or potential dulcimists. Her love of the dulcimer is evident in her relaxed and spontaneous playing style.

When Tom and Carole perform you can hear the resonances of their Slovak and Scotch-Irish backgrounds. You may hear them harmonizing on an old Pennsylvania oil rush song or teaching an audience a chorus to a traditional nonsense song. They may be telling a tale of their grand-parents or playing a toe tapping fiddle tune. Whether you laugh, cry, sing along or reminisce with them, you are sure to have a good time.