Thomasina Winslow facts for kids

Thomasina Winslow (born August 15, 1965 – died January 13, 2023) was an amazing American blues musician. She came from the Albany, New York area. Thomasina was the daughter of famous folk musician Tom Winslow.

Even as a little kid, she sang backup on her dad's classic folk music song, Hey Looka Yonder (It's The Clearwater). She also sang a solo version of One-Two-Three. Thirty years later, she made her own version of that song. Besides her solo career, Thomasina was part of four different bands. This included a duo with Nick Katzman and the band Nite Train. She also taught music and inspired many other musicians.

Thomasina mostly performed popular Blues standards. She also wrote many of her own blues and gospel songs. She was one of the few African-American women who produced music in the "indy" (independent) music world.

For over ten years, she taught many students in schools and privately. But she was best known for touring. She traveled across the eastern United States and Europe with Nick Katzman, starting in 2006.

Thomasina kept touring on and off until 2022. On May 6, 2011, she played with Nick Katzman again. This was at The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor in Brooklyn, New York. She toured Europe again in the summer of 2011, performing in France for the first time.

Her last big concert was for the Eddies, a local awards show in Upstate New York, in late 2022. Her very last private concert was on New Year's Eve 2022. Thomasina Winslow passed away from a stroke on January 13, 2023, at 57 years old.

Thomasina Winslow's Life Story

Growing Up and Early Talents

Thomasina Winslow was born in 1965. She grew up in New Baltimore, New York, which is south of Albany. She was a very talented child, and her brother nicknamed her "Tunes."

She first performed on her father's album, Tom Winslow, singing "1-2-3" when she was just a toddler. That same year, she sang backup on the famous folk music song Hey Looka Yonder (It's the Clearwater). This song was about the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a special boat.

As part of her family's group, The Winslows, she toured many folk music festivals. This included The Great Hudson River Revival, also known as the Clearwater Festival.

Learning and Education

Thomasina went to Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central Schools. She earned her A.A. degree in Performing Arts from Schenectady County Community College. She then got her B.A. in Music Performance from the University at Albany. There, she focused on Classical Guitar.

In December 2021, she received a special honorary degree. It was a Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant of Avalon Theological Seminary.

Solo Music and Band Adventures

Thomasina played blues and gospel music at her solo shows. She performed at places like the Cambridge Inn in Cambridge, New York, and the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In the 1990s, she also played concerts with bands like Two Story Tuesday and Bojembe. They performed around upstate New York, including in Glens Falls, Albany, and Colonie.

Thomasina also had a job teaching music and performing arts at Saint Anne Institute. This was a school for girls who needed extra support. She ran a program there called "Expressive Arts." She once said, "Teenagers have a lot to express... We try to help them." This program received funding from grants, including one from the New York State Education Department.

Thomasina's Solo Tours

Tours from 2007 to 2008

Thomasina went on a short solo tour in Upstate New York during late 2007 and early 2008. She had her first main show at Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs, New York. She was also a special guest on radio stations WRPI in Troy, New York and WAMC in Albany, New York.

In March 2007, she was featured in Caffe Lena's "3rd Annual Blues Fest." In May 2008, she returned to Java Jazz for another show.

Summer 2008 Performances

In the summer of 2008, Thomasina played more shows in Upstate New York. This included performances at Colonie Center and the Barnsider BBQ Restaurant in Lake George.

Live Radio Show on WRPI

On December 8, 2008, Thomasina performed a one-hour live show on WRPI. This is the college radio station for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her performance was part of their "Stormy Monday Blues" show.

2009 Tour Highlights

Thomasina had a big tour in the spring of 2009. She performed at the River City Blues Festival in Marietta, Ohio. She also played a show in Easton, New York. She even performed at blues festivals in Denmark and Germany. She returned to Caffe Lena and the Good Coffeehouse with Nick Katzman.

2012 Tour and Australian Debut

Thomasina performed in Australia for the first time at the Cairns Blues Festival on May 12, 2012.

Clearwater Festival 2014

Thomasina performed at the 2014 Clearwater Festival, a place she knew well from her childhood.

Bojembe Band Work

Thomasina Winslow was a guitarist and co-lead singer in the R&B band called Bojembe. The other members were John Zumbo, Sean Mack, and Terry Plunkett. They made one album between 2005 and 2006 before the band stopped playing together. Their music is still sold online. Many of their songs can be bought as MP3 files.

Bojembe's last public show was at the River Street Beat Shop in Troy, New York. A blogger wrote that Thomasina's roots were in traditional folk-blues. But her work with Bojembe had a more funky and world music sound.

Music Management and Production

As a business person, Thomasina managed and produced music for herself and other artists. She was one of the few African-American women producing records for independent artists.

Thomasina owned her own company called Winslow Productions. Through her production work, she also helped new performing artists learn and grow. She also worked with a local artist, Kim Morris, for a concert and art show.

Thomasina's music is sold on Amazon.com and other online stores like CDBaby. Because the blues market is not as big as pop music, her albums didn't appear on major music charts. Her music sold more outside the United States. This was especially true in England and Germany, where she performed with Nick Katzman. Her music also sold well in Poland, Denmark, and Latin America.

Thomasina realized that music downloads, like MP3s, could actually help her sales, especially overseas. This idea of file sharing helping sales has been studied by experts.

Working with Nick Katzman

One of Thomasina's most important collaborations was with Nick Katzman. Nick Katzman helped many younger blues artists, including Thomasina. He took her "under his wing." The two of them performed together in many places, from Brooklyn, New York to Stamford, England and Berlin, Germany.

Brooklyn Shows in 2006–2007

In April 2006, Nick Katzman was supposed to play at the Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor in Brooklyn. This was his favorite place to perform in the United States. Fans thought he would play with Ruby Green, but Thomasina performed instead. Nick Katzman was very impressed with Thomasina's talent. He wrote that she played guitar as well as he did and sang wonderfully. He was excited that his music was inspiring young Black musicians.

Fans were also excited about a second show in April 2007.

2007 Tour with Katzman

Thomasina flew to Germany to tour with Nick Katzman in the summer of 2007. They performed shows in Berlin, Germany and even recorded music videos.

The duo played at the Stamford Arts Centre Blues and Folk Festival. They were the second main act for "Guitar Day." Their performance was reviewed positively as a "great evening Concert." A blogger named Ginger Mayerson said she loved Thomasina's singing.

2008 Work with Katzman

In April 2008, Thomasina and Katzman recorded a song for a future CD. They also performed together again at the Good Coffeehouse in Brooklyn on April 25, 2008. They were named "Artist of the Day" by the oneartistaday.com website, which celebrates independent artists.

2009 Tour with Katzman

Thomasina and Katzman toured both America and Europe in mid-2009. They had shows in Brooklyn, Saratoga Springs, and Easton, New York. They also performed at the Mississippi Blues Nacht Festival in Köpenick, Germany.

2010 Tour with Katzman

Katzman and Winslow went on a short tour of Germany and Denmark in July and August 2010. They performed in Bad Sobernheim and Skarrild, Denmark at the Danish Folk, Blues, and Ragtime Guitar Festival. Thomasina also performed a solo show in Frankfurt, Germany.

2011 Tour with Katzman

On May 6, 2011, Thomasina played with Nick Katzman again at The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor. This was the fourth time the coffeehouse hosted Katzman and the third time for Thomasina.

Other Music Collaborations

Thomasina recorded a music video with Marco Haber of Mudfunk in December 2007. They covered the song "Fly Like An Eagle". She performed in the Old Songs Sampler Concert in Voorheesville, New York in January 2010. She also appeared with other female musicians at a Caffe Lena show called Ladies Sing the Blues in February 2010.

For many years until 2022, she also performed with the band Nite Train. She was scheduled to perform with them again on February 4, 2023, at Caffe Lena.

Music Albums

• Bojembe
• Essential Tunes
• Return

See also

• Biograph Records
• Reverend Gary Davis