Walter “Foots” Thomas

Reed expert, arranger and sometimes bandleader Walter “Foots” Thomas retired from fulltime performing in 1948, then became a specialist manager whose area of expertise could easily have already been coaching players in the art of amassing discographies with the capacity of encircling Atlantic City’s Trump Plaza. Thomas hailed from Muskogee, Oklahoma, a spot of interest regarding the country and traditional western superstar Merle Haggard’s well-known lyric, “We don’t smoke cigarettes weed in Muskogee.” non-etheless, among Muskogee indigenous Thomas’ most well-known sideman affiliations was with Cab Calloway of “Reefer Man” popularity. This artist may be the sibling of Joe Thomas, also a observed traditional jazz reed participant who ultimately overran the Jimmie Lunceford music group. More than his sibling by a 12 months, Walter Thomas started playing with regional bands like a scholar. He relocated to NEW YORK in 1927 and started dealing with the famed Jelly Move Morton significantly less than a 12 months later. Thomas became a member of the The Missourians in 1929 after brief stints in rings led by Luis Russell and Joe Steele. The Missourians offered the connection with Calloway, who ultimately required over that music group. With and without Calloway, Thomas was associated with this clothing through 1943. Calloway sidemen had been said to have obtained among the better wages in jazz, maybe one reason behind devotion. Thomas finally started using Don Redman by 1944, after that led his personal music group for a little less than half of a 10 years before getting into administration. Firmly connected with golf swing styles, Thomas produced one of is own finest recordings close to the end of his playing profession when combined with rootsy yet usually forward-looking tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. Thomas gave saxophone lessons towards the past due Jackie McLean, an excellent bebop and contemporary jazz alto saxophonist.