Thomas Shaw (blues musician) facts for kids

Thomas Edgar Shaw (born March 4, 1908 – died February 24, 1977) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was known for his unique blues style.

Early Life and Music

Thomas Shaw was born in Brenham, Texas, in the United States. His family taught him how to play both the harmonica and the guitar. He learned a lot from playing with other famous blues musicians. These included Blind Lemon Jefferson, J. T. Smith, and Ramblin' Thomas.

For a while, Thomas Shaw traveled around Texas. He played music in many different places. This is what we call an "itinerant musician" – someone who travels to perform.

Moving to California

In 1934, Thomas Shaw moved to California. He kept playing music there. He even performed on the radio. Later, he opened his own music club. He ran this club for many years.

By the 1960s, Thomas Shaw became a minister in a church. This was in San Diego, California. Around this time, there was a big interest in old blues music again. This was called the blues revival. Because of this, many people rediscovered Thomas Shaw's music.

Later Career and Recordings

In the 1960s and 1970s, Thomas Shaw recorded music for several labels. These included Advent, Blue Goose, and Blues Beacon. He also played at music festivals. In 1972, he even went on a tour in Europe.

He recorded some important songs. Two of these were "Hey Mr. Nixon" and "Martin Luther King." These songs showed his thoughts on important events and people of his time.

Death

Thomas Shaw passed away in February 1977. He was 69 years old. He died in San Diego during a heart operation.