Tom Knight

Finding magic on the Other End of the Mic

By John Midkiff

Tom Knight has a colorful history in show business. As a drummer, Knight has performed in packed venues all over the world with bands such as TLC, Monica, and Stevie Nicks. His voice-over talents have been utilized by companies such as Disney, Walmart, Crown Royal, and many luxury car brands, and he can be heard on several movie trailers like Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135. Knight won an Emmy for his voice-over work on Fans for Life, a commercial for SportsTime Ohio.

Born in Uniontown, PA, Knight bounced up and down the east coast before finally making Georgia his home. He studied music at Georgia State University, eventually landing gigs with well-known artists, which culminated with TLCs Fan Mail tour. He fondly remembers his time on the road as one big adventure like being on a constant vacation.

In 1999, the Fan Mail tour came to an end, and Knight decided to seek out a well-known company to help him make an audition video. When the company came back with an exorbitant quote, Knight taught himself basic video editing and made his own demo. When he returned to that same company with his finished product, they were so impressed that they offered him a video editing job.


Knights career in voice acting happened in much the same way. While working on a project, the company needed a voice-over, so he successfully did the read, and word quickly spread. He admits that most of his jobs come from referrals or someone hearing his prior work.

When Knight got into the voice acting industry, he met Don LaFontaine, who was one of the most widely recognized voices in Hollywood. Their friendship became an inspiration. Knight had reached out to LaFontaine in hopes of getting him to do voice work for one of his demos. LaFontaine found out that Knight had just returned from his honeymoon and waived his usual fee with the stipulation that Knight would eventually pay it forward. Their friendship lasted until LaFonatines death. Knight said, He (LaFontaine) made me feel like I could do it. I mean, a legend just invested in a stranger he didnt know. He made me feel as special as I thought he was.

As an artist and a human being, Knight is a pleasure and an inspiration. He is a testament to perseverance and willpower. When asked if he had any advice to share, he said, In whatever field you endeavor, dont quit. Stay the course, hold onto an idea, see it through, and you will find magic on the other end.