Biography
Let's begin at the beginning-I was born in
Saint Meinrad College Seminary (www.saintmeinrad.edu) offered me four of the best years of my life as I pursued a Bachelor's in Psychology and began writing Christian music. After graduation, I entered Notre Dame Seminary (www.nds.edu) and completed my Masters of Divinity. Music stayed at the forefront of my hobbies and interests throughout school and, thanks to the study and prayer offered by seminary life, its lyrics became more meaningful to me.
In June of 1999, I was ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas (www.dolr.org). My first two years of priesthood were spent at two churches in
Shortly after I was ordained, I released my first CD, From Sunrise to Sunset. This Christian Contemporary Pop CD provided a great platform for learning more about songwriting, performing, and recording. Following a concert tour around the State of Arkansas, I began working on the most recently released CD, Hope Beyond All Hope. This Christian Pop/Rock CD was accompanied by a book that explained the meaning behind the lyrics. The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, currently the Archbishop of Seattle, graced my book with a foreword, writing:
I met Fr. Tom Elliott in January 2002, soon after the announcement that I was to become the Bishop of Little Rock. It did not take long before I learned of the quality of his priestly ministry, his many talents, and his love for the Lord and His people.
Those who listen to Hope Beyond All Hope and read this accompanying book will quickly get to know Fr. Tom, even if they have never met him. The music, lyrics, and meditations give us a glimpse of this composer's heart. They are the fruit of listening to God in prayer and the fruit of pastoral love. When a priest steeps his life in prayer, he learns to open his heart not only to God, but also to all those who seek his ministry. Prayer brings hope, and here you will see how it flowers in song for Fr. Tom.
May these melodies and lyrics, these rhythms and meditations, and the fruit of a priestly heart, nourish your relationship with the Lord and help you see what wonders He has in store for those who love Him.
The most important thing about the Bishop's kind and generous words is that they challenge me to stay rooted in Jesus Christ through prayer and love. The gifts of priesthood and music fill my life with joy, excitement, and meaning, but they only make sense through prayer. Prayer reminds me of my complete and utter dependence on God's grace through Jesus Christ. As one of the few members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (www.ascap.com) with a severe hearing disability, I know that it is by the grace of God that I am able to share my priesthood and music with other people. I consider my disability yet another opportunity to give God all the glory for the "wonders He has done" (Acts 15:12).
In addition to writing and performing music, I am an avid motorcyclist. I currently ride a Honda ST1300. I jokingly tell people that I hate motorcycles, but that I'm simply trying to save my church some gas money! In truth, I love the feeling of simplicity and freedom that comes with motorcycling. It can be a very dangerous sport, however, which is the reason why I always recommend that bikers take motorcycle safety courses (www.msf-usa.org). To answer your questions before you even ask them—yes, I wear a helmet and no, I have not been to Sturgis for the rally!
If you would like to learn more about me, listen to my music. If you would like to learn more about Jesus Christ, Who is far more interesting, then feel free to read through the sermons and articles I have written!
Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."