Joe Thomas (alto saxophonist)

For Joe Thomas, born Uniontown, PA, see Joe Thomas (tenor saxophonist).

Joe Thomas (Muskogee, Oklahoma, December 23, 1908 – April 15, 1997),[1] was an American alto saxophonist and songwriter. He was the brother of Walter "Foots" Thomas. He first went to New York City with Jelly Roll Morton in 1929. He then worked with Blanche Calloway and other bands during the 1930s, and with jazz musician Dave Martin during the early 1940s. He gave up playing to become a vocal coach and songwriter and later an A&R executive.[2][3]

  1. ^ "Joseph Thomas". Social Security Death Index. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  2. ^ The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz – Page 643 0199729077 the late Leonard Feather, Ira Gitler – 1999 Muskogee, OK, 12/23/08. Brother of Walter "Foots" Thomas. To NYC w. Jelly Roll Morton 1929. Worked w. Blanche Calloway and other bands dur. '30s; w. Dave Martin early '40s; then gave up pl. to become voc. coach. Later was a&r executive ...
  3. ^ Billboard – March 22, 1997 – Page 4 Far from having "no voice in A&R," Joe Thomas and Howard Biggs ran R&B A&R at RCA Victor, Decca, and Columbia's OKeh division during the '50s.