Tabby Thomas facts for kids

Ernest Joseph "Tabby" Thomas (born January 5, 1929 – died January 1, 2014) was an American blues musician. He was also known as Rockin' Tabby Thomas. He was a talented singer, piano player, and guitarist. Tabby Thomas was especially known for playing swamp blues, a unique style of blues music from southern Louisiana.

Tabby Thomas's Early Life and Music Career

Tabby Thomas was born and grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the United States. After finishing high school, he joined the United States Air Force. While he was serving in the Air Force, he won a talent show on KSAN radio in San Francisco in 1959.

Starting His Music Journey

After his time in the Air Force, Tabby Thomas tried recording music. He made some songs for Hollywood Records, but they didn't become popular. He then returned to Baton Rouge. He recorded for a few smaller music companies before finding more success with Excello Records. This record company was based in Crowley, Louisiana. One of his well-known songs for Excello was "Hoodo Party" in 1961.

Besides music, he also worked other jobs. For a while, he worked at a company called Ciba Geigy. There, he was a union steward, which meant he helped represent workers.

Becoming a Blues Star in Baton Rouge

Tabby Thomas became one of the most famous blues musicians in Baton Rouge. His band was called the Mellow, Mellow Men. For a short time in the late 1960s, he stopped performing live. He started his own music company called Blue Beat. This company released his own songs and music from other local artists.

In 1978, Tabby Thomas and his family, including his son Chris Thomas King, opened a blues club. It was in an old building on North Boulevard. He named the club Tabby's Blues Box and Heritage Hall. It became a famous place for real blues music. The club moved to a new location in 2000 and finally closed in November 2004. Tabby Thomas also became very popular in the UK and Europe, where he often performed.

Awards and Later Years

In 1986, Tabby Thomas's song "Bad Luck and Trouble," with "I Can't Hold Out" on the other side, was nominated for an award. It was for the W.C. Handy Music Award in the Blues Single of the Year category. This award is now called the Blues Music Award. The songs were released on the Maison de Soul record label.

In 2002, Tabby Thomas was in a serious car accident. In 2004, he had a stroke. These events affected his ability to play instruments, but he could still sing. Later, he hosted his own radio show called Tabby's Blues Box. It was on the Baton Rouge radio stations WBRH-FM and KBRH-AM.

Tabby Thomas passed away on January 1, 2014. He was buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery.

See also

In Spanish: Tabby Thomas para niños