Earl Thomas (musician) explained

Earl Thomas (born August 29, 1960) is an American blues singer from California, United States. He is also a songwriter, with songs covered by artists including Tom Jones, Etta James, Solomon Burke and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won the San Diego Music Award four times.^[1]

Biography and career

He was born Earl Thomas Bridgeman in Pikeville, Tennessee, United States. He went to Humboldt State University.^[2]

He started out playing the Arcata clubs in the early 1980s while still at university.^[3] He was at an open mike night at an Arcata and sang a Jackson Browne number, "Something Fine" which was the start of his performing.^[4]

In the early 1990s, he moved to San Diego, California.^[2] His Blue...Not Blues album was released in 1991 and received favorable reviews, and he was referred to by one reviewer as "a pleasant surprise".^{[5] [6]} His self-penned song, "I Sing the Blues", was a hit for Etta James.^[7]

In 2008, he played at the Russian River Blues Festival in Sonoma County, California.^[3]

In August 2016, Thomas appeared at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne in Lancashire, England.^[8]

Discography

• 1991: Blue...Not Blues (Bizarre-Straight/Rhino)
• 1994: Extra Soul (Bizarre-Planet/JDC)
• 2003: Soul'd! (Memphis International)
• 2005: Intersection (Memphis International)
• 2005: Unplugged At Caffe Calabria (Bridgeman Enterprises)
• 2006: Plantation Gospel (JP Bomann Production Company)
• 2008: Earl Thomas With Paddy Milner & The Big Sounds: See It My Way (Pepper Cake/ZYX Music)
• 2008: Soulshine (Conton)
• 2011: Introducing The Blues Ambassadors (Earl Thomas Music)
• 2012: Earl Thomas & The Kings of Rhythm: Live At Biscuits & Blues (Earl Thomas Music)
• 2016: Crow (Earl Thomas Music)^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Earl Thomas. Vivaglammagazine.com. 1 August 2017. 1 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170801201753/http://vivaglammagazine.com/earl-thomas/. dead.
2. Book: Edward M. Komara. Encyclopedia of the Blues. 2006. Psychology Press. 978-0-415-92699-7. 983.
3. The Press Democrat 15, June 2008 Blues: The secret of a pink leisure suit
4. The Sunday Gazette January 4, 2004 H5 Thomas doesn't limit himself to one style, but his heart is in soul by Joel Selvin
5. Web site: Blue...Not Blues - Earl Thomas - Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. 1 August 2017.
6. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 19, 1992 J5 Music, Recordings Blues -Jim White
7. Web site: Earl Thomas - Biography & History. AllMusic. 1 August 2017.
8. Web site: The International Stage - The Great British R&B Festival. Bluesfestival.co.uk. 22 August 2016.
9. Web site: Earl Thomas - Album Discography . AllMusic. 1 August 2017.