Tom Thompson is the founder of RubyArts Events and the creative force behind its Signature Shows™ and DoubleVision™ visual experience. With over 25 years in the music industry, Thompson has built a career at the intersection of live performance, artist development, and corporate event production.
He was the longtime manager of jazz icon Kermit Ruffins, former manager for blues artist Tab Benoit and co-founder of the award-winning Basin Street Records, where he worked with a roster of acclaimed New Orleans artists including Henry Butler, and the Rebirth Brass Band. A past winner of Offbeat Magazine’s “Manager of the Year” award, Thompson’s background as an artist manager, booking agent, and live event producer spans everything from intimate jazz clubs to festivals to arena-scale events, always with a focus on creative excellence and audience connection.
In the corporate space, Thompson has been involved in the planning and execution of entertainment for the NFL, NBA, Microsoft, the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, and high-profile figures such as Peter Holt (owner of the San Antonio Spurs) and Paul Fleming (founder of P.F. Chang’s). Notably, he produced Fleming’s 50th birthday celebration in Napa Valley, California, and brought the Kermit Ruffins Big Band Orchestra to San Antonio for Peter Holt’s daughter’s wedding celebration.
He also played a key role in the entertainment production for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, which featured performances by Harry Connick, Jr., Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, and Kermit Ruffins. Earlier, in 2007, he booked the entertainment for the White House Congressional Picnic during the George W. Bush administration. His roles have ranged from manager and agent to creative producer, consistently bringing a hands-on, solutions-driven approach.
With RubyArts, Thompson fuses deep industry experience with bold creative vision — delivering national-level tribute performances, immersive visuals, and unforgettable live music experiences tailored for tradeshows, conferences, and corporate events.
Tracey Freeman is a two-time Grammy Award-winning producer with over 30 years of experience across studio, stage, film, and television. He is best known for his longtime collaboration with Harry Connick, Jr., producing multiple acclaimed albums including the Grammy-winning Songs I Heard. Freeman earned his second Grammy for producing Rebirth Brass Band’s Rebirth of New Orleans, which won Best Regional Roots Music Album. He has received a total of four Grammy nominations and one Tony nomination throughout his career.
A New Orleans native, Freeman has worked with iconic artists such as Kermit Ruffins, George Porter Jr. (the Meters, the Neville Brothers), Trombone Shorty, and the Rebirth Brass Band. He also produced music for the soundtrack album for Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book and NBC’s Annie Live!.
Freeman and RubyArts founder Tom Thompson are long-time collaborators — Freeman produced numerous Kermit Ruffins albums during Thompson’s tenure as Ruffins’ manager, establishing a creative partnership that continues through RubyArts Events.
As Chief Visuals Engineer for RubyArts Events, Freeman leads the content creation of DoubleVision™ — a multi-layered visual system that transforms every RubyArts Signature Show™ into an immersive, arena-style experience. An expert in tools such as Resolume Arena, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Logic Pro, Freeman designs and produces all visual content in his private New Orleans studio, where music, motion, and storytelling merge into sponsor-ready magic.