Kid Thomas Valentine facts for kids

Kid Thomas (1896–1987), whose real name was Thomas Valentine, was an American jazz trumpet player and bandleader. He was known for his unique style of playing.

Kid Thomas was born in Reserve, Louisiana. He moved to New Orleans when he was young. In the early 1920s, he became known as a very talented trumpet player.

Leading His Own Band

Starting in 1926, Kid Thomas led his own band. For many years, his band was based in Algiers, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. His band was very popular with local dancers for a long time.

Kid Thomas's band might have been the longest-running traditional jazz dance band in New Orleans. He kept his own special style of playing. This style was often called "New Orleans Jazz." It was different from other jazz styles that grew popular in other parts of the country.

A Unique Jazz Style

Kid Thomas played in a hot, bluesy, and sometimes percussive way. This means his music was lively, had a strong blues feeling, and sometimes sounded like drums were being hit. He was happy to play popular songs of the day, even during the rock & roll era. But he always played them in the style of a New Orleans dance hall from the early 1920s.

Recordings and Tours

In the 1950s, Kid Thomas started making recordings. This helped him become known to more people. His band played regularly at Preservation Hall in New Orleans from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Kid Thomas also traveled a lot for Preservation Hall. He even went on a tour to Russia! He was often a special guest at clubs and music festivals in Europe. He played with many different local bands, as well as his own. In the 1960s, Kid Thomas recorded many songs for the Jazz Crusade label. He played with his own band and with Big Bill Bissonnette's Easy Riders Jazz Band. He went on more than 20 tours with the Easy Riders in the northeastern United States.

Later Years

In the mid-1980s, Kid Thomas started to get weaker. The people who managed Preservation Hall brought in Wendell Brunious. At first, Brunious played a second trumpet. He took over most of the trumpet playing in Kid Thomas's last year or so. However, Kid Thomas still led the band. He would keep the rhythm by using a slap stick.

It is important not to confuse Kid Thomas Valentine with another musician named Kid Thomas Watts. That Kid Thomas was a blues singer and harmonica player from Chicago.

Discography

• Kid Thomas-George Lewis Ragtime Stompers (G.H.B. Records, 1962)
• Kid Thomas Valentine's Creole Jazz Band (American Music, 1993)