James 'Son' Thomas ~ Mississippi Blues - Mix
Jan 5, 2017 09:04:49 #
Don G. Dinsdale
Loc: El Cajon, CA (San Diego County)
When I Was a Kid Growing Up in Oakland, CA (late '40's & early '50's) West Oakland Was The Them "Negro" Section of Town And It Had a Radio Station That Played Blues And Later Rhythm & Blues [KDIA]... That's Where I Learned To Love "Negro Music"... Don D.
JAMES SON THOMAS
Born in Eden, Mississippi, Thomas was known as a folk artist for his sculptures made from unfired clay, which he dug out of the banks of the Yazoo River. His most famous sculpted images were skulls (often featuring actual human teeth), which mirrored his job as a gravedigger and his often stated philosophy that "we all end up in the clay". In 1985, his work was featured in the prestigious Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Nancy Reagan, then the First Lady. Thomas's skulls are on display in the Delta Blues Museum, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the Highway 61 Blues Museum, in Leland, Mississippi. Thomas played at numerous blues festivals and private parties throughout the area, including the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville. In the 1970s, Eddie Cusic performed with Thomas at regular engagements. Together they recorded "Once I Had a Car", which is included on the compilation album Mississippi Delta & South Tennessee Blues (1977).
In later performances he was accompanied by the Swiss harmonica player Walter Liniger. Thomas was recorded by several small record labels and is probably best known for his album Gateway to the Delta, recorded by Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, but he remains an obscure figure outside of dedicated blues communities.[citation needed]
In the 1970s, he appeared in the films Delta Blues Singer: James "Sonny Ford" Thomas, Give My Poor Heart Ease: Mississippi Delta Bluesmen, and Mississippi Delta Blues.
Thomas died in 1993 in Greenville, Mississippi, from emphysema and a stroke. He is buried in Leland and memorialized by a headstone placed in 1996 by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund and paid for by John Fogerty. His epitaph consists of lyrics from one of his songs. His son, Pat Thomas, continues to play and perform his father's songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-a9_gbNe48&list=RD1-a9_gbNe48#t=7
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kQmbg97UeE&list=RD_kQmbg97UeE#t=9
JAMES SON THOMAS
Born in Eden, Mississippi, Thomas was known as a folk artist for his sculptures made from unfired clay, which he dug out of the banks of the Yazoo River. His most famous sculpted images were skulls (often featuring actual human teeth), which mirrored his job as a gravedigger and his often stated philosophy that "we all end up in the clay". In 1985, his work was featured in the prestigious Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Nancy Reagan, then the First Lady. Thomas's skulls are on display in the Delta Blues Museum, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the Highway 61 Blues Museum, in Leland, Mississippi. Thomas played at numerous blues festivals and private parties throughout the area, including the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville. In the 1970s, Eddie Cusic performed with Thomas at regular engagements. Together they recorded "Once I Had a Car", which is included on the compilation album Mississippi Delta & South Tennessee Blues (1977).
In later performances he was accompanied by the Swiss harmonica player Walter Liniger. Thomas was recorded by several small record labels and is probably best known for his album Gateway to the Delta, recorded by Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, but he remains an obscure figure outside of dedicated blues communities.[citation needed]
In the 1970s, he appeared in the films Delta Blues Singer: James "Sonny Ford" Thomas, Give My Poor Heart Ease: Mississippi Delta Bluesmen, and Mississippi Delta Blues.
Thomas died in 1993 in Greenville, Mississippi, from emphysema and a stroke. He is buried in Leland and memorialized by a headstone placed in 1996 by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund and paid for by John Fogerty. His epitaph consists of lyrics from one of his songs. His son, Pat Thomas, continues to play and perform his father's songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-a9_gbNe48&list=RD1-a9_gbNe48#t=7
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kQmbg97UeE&list=RD_kQmbg97UeE#t=9
Jan 5, 2017 09:27:08 #
Don G. Dinsdale wrote:
In later performances he was accompanied by the Swiss harmonica player Walter Liniger.
Well! If you like harmonica, take a listen to this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoauBe465qQ
The only harmonica to make Carnegie Hall bounce off the walls!
Jan 5, 2017 09:33:12 #
Back in better days 30's thru 50's the coloreds had some of the best music in the land, White or Colored. remember Cab Calloway, Lena horn, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, and let's not forget Fat's Domino. These artists had upbeat positive music enjoyed by all. This in turn bought the Coloreds and Whites closer together Today it is a whole different story as we are divided more than ever. One of the primary causes of this the 'new' ( Black ) culture For the most part the music is vile, violent, and sex oriented. Why would a entire group of people call them selves 'Black' when the meaning of the word refers to darkness, evil, sinister and finally a big black Cadillac hearse. Can we as a people come up with a more positive image ?
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