Tommy also credits Luther Allison's brilliant style of fusing Blues, with Soul and funky rhythms as being a major influence on his song writing. This influence is apparent in many of the songs Tommy has written for various recording projects. Bringing "Groove to the Blues"  became a trademark of the Stillwell - Rodenberg sound.

In the late 1980s, Tommy joined long time friend & fellow musician Larry Grisham & formed The Beat Daddys, a band based in Southern Indiana. By the end of 1990, they had recorded and released their first cd, The Beat Daddys, Houserocking Rhythm & Blues. In 1992, while touring the country in support of that release, they were signed by Waldoxy Records. A subsidiary of the Jackson, MS based Malaco Records. During his tenure with Waldoxy Records, Tommy recorded on two Beat Daddy cd releases: "No, We Ain't From Clarksdale" and "South To Mississippi". Also during this period, Tommy was among the many Waldoxy/Malaco artists who participated in the recording of the Malaco release "Z Zelebration", which was a tribute to fellow Malaco recording artist the late Z. Z. Hill.

Tommy took center stage in March 1995, when he formed Tommy Stillwell's Seroius Business. This brought him to the front as a lead vocalist as well as guitarist. And he responded beautifully, bringing to the stage a guitar style that can hold an audience spellbound, and a voice so packed full of emotion it breathes life into each song. A life that speaks of all those years of the joy, and pain, the regrets, and the promise of what tomorrow may bring. These emotions are the very essence of what "the Blues are all about". Tommy doesn't just play the blues, he shares the blues with the audience. His voice can seduce you with a whisper. It will plead with sorrow, then growl with anger. His guitar can sweep you up, and set you down in the deep south on a Summer night where the air hangs heavy, and the sweat rolls freely. Then like a breath of fresh air, squeeze notes out of the guitar that are so soft and sweet they almost seem to shimmer like a full moon on the Gulf Of Mexico.

 

These days Tommy stays busy doing live engagements with his son Tommy II on drums, percussion, & vocals & Fred Bassett on bass & vocals in a “Power Blues/Rock” trio The Hellcats, along with taking occasional dates with Carl Rodenberg. Tommy can also be found playing dates with various artists who need his services from time to time. Although he doesn’t travel as extensively as he once did, that could change in the future. Tommy has been busy writing new material for what he hopes my lay the groundwork for a new CD project.