# Tom Brier

> American ragtime pianist and composer

**Wikidata**: [Q16167056](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16167056)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tom-brier

## Summary
Tom Brier is an American pianist and composer specializing in ragtime music. He is also recognized for his work as a computer software programmer and software engineer. Brier is noted for his performances and compositions within the traditional ragtime genre, maintaining a significant presence on digital music platforms.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 3, 1971, in Oakdale, United States
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** [Data not provided in source]
- **Known for:** Ragtime piano performance and composition; software development
- **Employer(s):** [Data not provided in source]
- **Field(s):** Music (Ragtime), Software Engineering

## Contributions
Tom Brier has contributed to the preservation and evolution of ragtime music through performance and composition, disseminated widely via digital channels. His body of work is indexed across major music databases, including MusicBrainz, Discogs, and AllMusic, indicating a substantial catalog of recordings. He maintains an official artist channel on YouTube, which serves as a primary repository for his music, garnering significant viewer engagement.

In addition to his musical career, Brier has a documented background in technology. He is indexed in academic and professional databases such as the ACM Digital Library and DBLP (Digital Bibliography & Library Project), signifying contributions to computer science literature or software engineering. He worked as a programmer until August 2016. His dual expertise is further evidenced by his profile on professional networking platforms and his classification in knowledge bases as both a musical artist and a software developer.

## FAQs

### Q: What is Tom Brier best known for?
A: Tom Brier is best known as an American ragtime pianist and composer. He is also known for his professional work as a software engineer and programmer.

### Q: Where was Tom Brier born?
A: Tom Brier was born on October 3, 1971, in Oakdale, United States.

### Q: Does Tom Brier have a presence on streaming platforms?
A: Yes, Tom Brier has a verified presence on numerous streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Tidal, and Deezer, among others.

## Why They Matter
Tom Brier represents a unique intersection of traditional American music and modern technology. As a ragtime pianist and composer, he plays a role in keeping the genre alive for contemporary audiences, utilizing digital distribution to reach a global listenership. His substantial following on platforms like YouTube (with over 179,000 views on his official topic channel as of March 2021 and nearly 800,000 total views recorded) demonstrates the ongoing relevance of his musical output.

Simultaneously, his profile as a software engineer and programmer highlights a versatile career path. His inclusion in both music databases (such as Carnegie Hall links and Discogs) and computer science repositories (ACM and DBLP) illustrates a significant duality of talent. This combination allows him to bridge the gap between the arts and technical fields, making him a distinct figure in both the ragtime community and the software development landscape.

## Notable For
- **Ragtime Performance:** Recognized specifically as an American ragtime pianist and composer.
- **Digital Reach:** Significant listener engagement on YouTube, with over 796,000 recorded video views.
- **Dual Career:** Held professional roles as a programmer and software engineer alongside his music career.
- **Academic Indexing:** presence in the DBLP and ACM Digital Library computer science bibliographies.
- **Extensive Catalog:** Listed on over 20 major music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Discogs.

## Body

### Early Life and Background
Tom Brier was born on October 3, 1971, in Oakdale, United States. He holds United States citizenship.

### Musical Career
Brier is an instrumentalist who specializes in the piano. He is widely described as a ragtime pianist and composer. His work has earned him a comprehensive digital footprint across the music industry:
- **Streaming Services:** He has artist profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, and Qobuz.
- ** databases:** He is indexed by MusicBrainz (ID: 4ec27ab5-970c-46fc-afcc-94eaaa662d55), Discogs (ID: 6447612), and AllMusic (ID: mn0001201439).
- **Audience:** His YouTube channel ("Tom Brier - Topic") has accumulated substantial viewership, with data indicating 179,575 views as of March 2021 and a total viewer/listener count reaching 796,808.

### Software Engineering Career
Distinct from his musical endeavors, Brier has an established history in the tech sector.
- **Occupation:** He is classified as a programmer and software engineer.
- **Academic Contributions:** He holds author identifiers in the DBLP (ID: 191/0697) and the ACM Digital Library (ID: 81100024328), suggesting published work or contributions in the field of computing.
- **Timeline:** His professional activity as a programmer concluded on August 6, 2016.

### Online Presence and Identifiers
Brier maintains a verified online presence through various official channels:
- **Website:** https://tom-brier.com
- **Social Media:** LinkedIn (tom-brier-a73a2a37) and Facebook.
- **Authority Control:** He is listed in the Library of Congress Authority File (ID: no2007021679) and has VIAF and ISNI identifiers.

## References

1. Carnegie Hall linked open data
2. [Source](https://www.westcoastragtime.com/bios/bio.brier.06.htm)
3. YouTube API