Hersal Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hersal Thomas
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Hersal Thomas (seated) and his older brother, George Washington Thomas
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 9, 1906 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Died | June 2, 1926 (aged 19) Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1920–1926 |
| Labels | Okeh Records |
Hersal Thomas (born September 9, 1906 – died June 2, 1926) was an American blues pianist and composer. He made several recordings for Okeh Records in 1925 and 1926. Even though he died very young, he left a lasting mark on music.
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Meet Hersal Thomas
Hersal Thomas was born in Houston, Texas, United States. From a young age, he showed a great talent for playing and writing blues music. He came from a very musical family, which helped him grow his skills.
A Musical Family
Hersal wasn't the only musician in his family. His older brother, George Washington Thomas, was also a talented piano player and composer. His sister, Sippie Wallace, was a famous blues singer. His niece, Hociel Thomas, was also a well-known singer. Music truly ran in their family!
His Impact on Music
Even though Hersal Thomas passed away at a young age, he had a big influence on other musicians. He especially inspired the Chicago boogie woogie style of piano playing. Famous pianists like Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis said that Hersal was a major influence on their music.
Famous Songs and Collaborations
One of Hersal Thomas's most famous songs was "Suitcase Blues." This song was so important that it was released on a CD in 1992 as part of a special music collection called Roots 'N Blues: The Retrospective.
Hersal and his brother George also worked together to write a song called "The Fives." This song was considered a very important boogie-woogie tune by many musicians, including Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis.
Hersal Thomas recorded music under his own name. He also played piano for other artists. He worked with his niece Hociel Thomas and his sister Sippie Wallace. He also played with Lilian Miller and possibly Sodarisa Miller.
In 1926, he had a recording session with Hociel Thomas and the legendary Louis Armstrong. During this session, they recorded songs like "Deep Water Blues," "Lonesome Hours," "Listen To Ma," and "G'wan, I Told You." The first three songs were written by someone named "Thomas," which could have been Hersal or his brother George. Hersal also worked in recording sessions with another famous musician, King Oliver.
His sister, Sippie Wallace, recorded seven of his compositions. These songs include "A Jealous Woman Like Me," "A Man for Every Day of the Week," "Dead ... Blues," "Have You Ever Been Down?," "I Feel Good," "Shorty George Blues," and "Trouble Everywhere I Roam."
A Short but Important Life
Hersal Thomas died suddenly in Detroit, Michigan, when he was only 19 years old. He passed away from food poisoning while working at a place called Penny's Pleasure Inn. Despite his short life, Hersal Thomas left behind a valuable collection of blues and boogie-woogie music that continues to inspire musicians today.
