Earl Thomas (musician) explained
Earl Thomas Bridgeman (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
Thomas was born in Pikeville, Tennessee, United States and attended 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 mic night at an Arcata club and sang the Jackson Browne number "Something Fine", which marked the start of his performance career.[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, 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
- 1990: I Sing the Blues (Conton)
- 1992: Blue...Not Blues (Bizarre-Straight/Rhino) reissue of I Sing the Blues
- 1994: Extra Soul (Bizarre-Planet/JDC)
- 1995: Stronger Than the Flame (Conton)
- 1998: The Elector Studio Sessions
- 2001: Justin Torpey Band featuring Earl Thomas: Rhapsody (Justin W. Torpey Productions)
- 2003: Soul'd! (Memphis International)
- 2005: Intersection (Memphis International)
- 2006: Plantation Gospel (JP Bomann Productions)
- 2006: Unplugged at Caffe Calabria (Bridgeman Enterprises)
- 2007: Earl Thomas & the Kings of Rhythm: Live at Biscuits & Blues (Earl Thomas Music)
- 2008: Soulshine (Earl Thomas Music)
- 2010: Introducing the Blues Ambassadors (Earl Thomas Music)
- 2011: Earl Thomas with Paddy Milner & the Big Sounds: See It My Way (Pepper Cake/ZYX Music)
- 2016: Crow (Earl Thomas Music)[9]
- 2022: Cold Ghetto (Earl Thomas Music)
- 2023: Church Songs (Earl Thomas Music)
Notes and References
- Web site: Earl Thomas. Vivaglammagazine.com. 1 August 2017. 1 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170801201753/http://vivaglammagazine.com/earl-thomas/. dead.
- Book: Edward M. Komara. Encyclopedia of the Blues. 2006. Psychology Press. 978-0-415-92699-7. 983.
- The Press Democrat 15, June 2008 Blues: The secret of a pink leisure suit
- The Sunday Gazette January 4, 2004 H5 Thomas doesn't limit himself to one style, but his heart is in soul by Joel Selvin
- Web site: Blue...Not Blues - Earl Thomas - Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. 1 August 2017.
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 19, 1992 J5 Music, Recordings Blues -Jim White
- Web site: Earl Thomas - Biography & History. AllMusic. 1 August 2017.
- Web site: The International Stage - The Great British R&B Festival. Bluesfestival.co.uk. 22 August 2016.
- Web site: Earl Thomas - Album Discography . AllMusic. 1 August 2017.
