Link driver showcases hidden musical talent

Thomas Kuhn is a Link driver, Johnnie alumnus, and retired secondary educator—but on the weekends, he’s one-half of a bluesy rock band. Primarily known on campus as the gray-haired driver who totes students around on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, Kuhn enjoys several things about his position. He likes seeing the students, and of course, listening to music—of which he especially has fun with on the weekend.

“If [the kids] feel like singing, I’ll put on ‘Piano Man,’” Kuhn said.

Kuhn’s connection to music traces back to the fifth grade, where he first picked up the saxophone, his current instrument of choice. He played throughout high school and college and was an active member of the CSB+SJU jazz ensemble and wind ensemble.

“I started playing saxophone in my room at home as a teenager, with the lights off and the candle lit, to try and play along with whatever came on the radio,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn can’t read music and plays entirely by ear. It depends what type of tune he’s trying to learn; with blues music, he can improvise and only has to listen to the song a couple times. But if it’s a well-recognized song, like Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” Kuhn practices intently to be as close to the original as possible. Though Kuhn’s main instrument is the saxophone, he also plays the flute, guitar and harmonica. His bandmate, Dave Cofell, sings and plays guitar, banjo and accordion. It isn’t Kuhn’s first time being in a band. In college, he played in a band called “Trax,” who got back together for their 25th college reunion.

“We played half a dozen places in the cities as kind of a warm up, and then we played at Brother Willie’s Pub for our 25th,” Kuhn said.

Following that, Kuhn was part of a five-piece rock’n’roll band for about six years titled “Tres,” which fell apart after the pandemic hit. So now, it’s just Kuhn and Cofell hitting the stage with BoDeans and Stevie Wonder. Like anyone else, Kuhn looks for music that he can imitate. He enjoys music that has an original value.

“I appreciate a surprise in a song, whether it be melodically or whether it be rhythmically… I love songs where you couldn’t replicate the beat with a drum machine,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn and Cofell will be playing on April 7 in Evansville, June 1 at Fisher’s (Avon, Minn.) and Aug. 5 at Art in Motion (Holdingford, Minn.). Davecofell.com has more information. Until then, look for him between that 15-minute route between St. Ben’s and St. John’s, greeting students with enthusiasm. Look for him bobbing his head to Blood, Sweat & Tears Still Nash, Joni Mitchell and Chick Corea.