Composer and lyricist, Tom Luckay

When Tom Luckay was a toddler, his parents bought a small farm on Solon Road and the family moved from Shaker Heights to Chagrin Falls. It became his beloved hometown.

Chagrin Falls has talent

His penchant for all things musical showed up early. At two years old he impressed relatives with his ability to sing the hit song of the day, "Buttons and Bows," on pitch and lyric-perfect. His friends in Chagrin may recall his knack for reciting the whimsical parodies he wrote about daily school life, teachers, and classmates. This pattern continued through high school and on to the Marine Corps where he was known to have actually made the Bulldog smile.

After military service -- which included working at the Armed Forces Radio and Television station on the Naval base in Keflavik, Iceland -- he enrolled at Kent State University majoring in telecommunications and minoring in English. He graduated cum laude in 1973.

A reputation in the Valley for integrity

Circumstances led him to a career in retail sales and later a management position at Chagrin Pet & Garden. He retired from the company in 2010 after thirty years of service. Through his daily contact with the public, he earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, hard work, and steady good humor. CP&G owner Ted Kruse wept when he left.

A variety of avocations

Besides music, Tom's avocations include being a scratch bowler, an avid, and a star, slow-pitch softball player, and now - after forty years of play - a dedicated softball umpire. He loves American history, American musical history, Major League Baseball statistics, and sports.

He reconnected with classmate Margaret Thoren at their thirtieth class reunion. They married in 2010 and now reside on the Thoren family farm in Russell. Margaret, a professional writer with an impressive resume of work, instantly recognized Tom's talent and encouraged him to pursue his writing more seriously. Tom can honestly say that without her encouragement and support, there would be no "If Chagrin Could Sing."

A life of lyrics

Tom lives in lyrics - his own and those of the great writers he admires. He has developed his own unique style of tight rhyming patterns and unexpected analogies. One of the greatest compliments he received during the production of "If Chagrin Could Sing" came from soprano Natalie Green who said she enjoyed singing his lyrics because of the sweet element of surprise in his rhymes.

With heartfelt gratitude...

Tom loves Chagrin Falls and the unselfishness and goodness of its residents. Writing a musical tribute to the town and being able to contribute to the Historical Society is, for him, a dream come true. His gratitude to God for opening the way for this project to come to fruition knows no bounds.