tomprincipato.com

When blues/rock/roots guitarist and singer Tom Principato lays into a vocal, some listeners hear a familiar tone.

But nope, Principato doesn't think his voice sounds much like Eric Clapton's.

"I do get compared to him a lot, and I know that people consider that a compliment," said Principato, who returns to Blue 5 Restaurant on Friday. "I don't think it's true, and I always say that I don't think Eric Clapton would agree with that either [laughs]."

Both are better loved for their guitar playing than their singing. The comparisons end there, because while both are phenomenal guitarists plumbing similar genres, their styles are far different.

But Principato said that over the past few years, he has focused on improving his singing voice.

"There were a few years there a while back where some critics said, well, you know, the guy plays great guitar, but he's not really that great of a singer," he said. "So I decided to really try to start working on my vocals. †At this point, any compliment I get at all about my singing, I'm happy to have it."

You can hear the evidence on Principato's most recent album, "A Part of Me," released on his own Powerhouse Records label. The record is also the first he has done that featured only his own material. The disc spotlights plenty of Principato's burning guitar work, along with guest spots from guitarist Sonny Landreth, keyboardists Chuck Leavell and Brian Auger, bassist Willie Weeks and Memphis Horns trumpeter Wayne Jackson.

- Tad Dickens

Who: Tom Principato

Where: Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke

When: 9:30 p.m. Friday

How much: Free

Info: 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, tomprincipato.com

Go to this story at roanoke.com/entertainment or to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch to hear a podcast with Principato and streaming music from "A Part Of Me."