Tom's early musical influences were the big bands his parents listened to, including Glenn Miller & Benny Goodman, and popular hits from the 50s & 60s with his sister and brother.

During the 1980s, Hall became an accomplished swing dancer, following bands in the LA Rockabilly scene like the Stray Cats and the Blasters.

Soon Hall realized that most of the Rockabilly tunes were old blues songs, and that Jump Blues were just as much fun to dance to as Rockabilly music.

Hall then began to follow blues bands like the James Harmon Band and Roomful of Blues, but not until attending the 1987 Topanga Canyon Blues Festival did Hall decide that he wanted to be a musician.  At that festival, he saw two great harp players, Paul Butterfield and William Clarke, battling each other  on the harmonica while backing up vocalist Linda Hopkins.

Especially impressed with Clarke, Hall decided then and there that he wanted to play the harmonica. Hall began to follow Clark, eventually getting to know him and become friends with him. Learning of Clarke's musical influences, artists such as George "Harmonica" Smith, Walter Horton, and Sonny Boy Williamson, - Hall began collecting and playing along with their records.  Other West Coast harp players like Mark Hummel, James Harmon, and Rod Piazza also influence Hall.

Hall also continued to dance, and in 1991 appeared in the movie "Shout" with John Travolta.  In 1996 he danced in the critically acclaimed movie "Swingers", which was filmed live at The Derby in Los Angeles. He has also appeared as a dancer in many television commercials.

In January 1992, Hall formed his own band, Flattop Tom & His Jump Cats.  Playing the Los Angeles club scene, Hall developed his own unique style, playing harmonica along with the horn arrangements.  Gradually the band attracted better players, evolving to the highly talented eight-piece combo that is the "Jump Cats" today.  Hall strives to create that big band, "Roomful of Blues" sound that keeps crowds dancing all night long.

A unique feature of Flattop Tom's performances is that when other band members sing or take instrumentals, he jumps offstage to join the audience on the dance floor where, much to the crowd's delight, he performs the jitterbug, often with with lifts and aerial stunts.