George “Fathead” Thomas

It really is hard to determine precisely how short the profession of vocalist George “Fathead” Thomas was, since his day of birth by no means appears to have been established. non-etheless, he was eliminated by the finish of 1930, victim of a bad car crash in New Haven. He left out a legacy as an innovator in scat performing, mostly of the jazz performers of his period who didn’t chant along together using the faddish Louis Armstrong imitations of your day. The majestic R&B vocalist Jimmy Hurrying — who nearly changed Thomas in the favorite McKinney’s Natural cotton Pickers — could be relied on for professional testimony upon this subject matter: “George “Fathead” Thomas…was an excellent ballad singer and a scat guy. A whole lot of performers tried to duplicate Louis Armstrong, however, not extremely effectively. George Thomas was among the significant exceptions. He was the 1st I noticed sing ‘I Want just a little Woman.’ He do a marvelous work on ‘Baby, Won’t You Make sure you Come House’ and ‘If I POSSIBLY COULD Become with You,’ as well.” Thomas also added music of his very own towards the repertoire of rings and performers he was connected with. “Bedroom Blues,” either restful or provocative, was documented by both Albert Ammons and Sippie Wallace. “Present Me Missouri Blues,” connected with Kansas Town jazz vocalist Julia Lee, match a craze of civic-minded ’20s strikes but could equally well be seen as a tragic blues with the audience that identifies Missouri as misery. Also efficient on at least three reed musical instruments, Thomas hailed from Western world Virginia and became among McKinney’s Natural cotton Pickers in 1927. He was an associate of the group until his loss of life but also freelanced with a number of the competition, including Duke Ellington, with whom he documented in 1926. The Ellington edges can be found on early series like the brilliant 1924-1926: Delivery of a Music group, Vol. 1.