Singer, songwriter and guitarist Tom “Boose” Rutledge of The Pickles will release his debut original song, “Dyin’ to Make a Livin’,” downloadable across streaming platforms May 1.

For Rutledge, music is life. Music “has been the center focus as long as I can remember,” he said. “It’s been a part of everything involving my existence.”

The West Creek resident has played and sung cover songs professionally all over the local live entertainment scene for almost 30 years – 23 of those years with The Pickles.