Ramblin' Thomas
American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (1901/2–1944/5)
title: "Ramblin' Thomas" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1900s-births", "1945-deaths", "people-from-logansport,-louisiana", "american-blues-guitarists", "american-male-guitarists", "american-blues-singers", "songwriters-from-louisiana", "country-blues-musicians", "20th-century-deaths-from-tuberculosis", "blues-musicians-from-louisiana", "american-slide-guitarists", "texas-blues-musicians", "paramount-records-artists", "20th-century-american-singers", "20th-century-american-guitarists", "songwriters-from-texas", "singers-from-louisiana", "guitarists-from-louisiana", "guitarists-from-texas", "20th-century-american-male-singers", "tuberculosis-deaths-in-tennessee", "american-male-songwriters", "20th-century-american-songwriters"] description: "American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (1901/2–1944/5)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramblin'_Thomas" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (1901/2–1944/5) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist "]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Ramblin' Thomas |
| birth_name | Willard Thomas |
| birth_date | 1901 or 1902 |
| birth_place | Logansport, Louisiana, United States |
| death_date | 1944 or 1945 (aged 41–44) |
| death_place | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| instrument | {{flatlist |
| genre | {{flatlist |
| * Country blues<ref name | "AMG" / |
| occupation | {{flatlist |
| label | Paramount, Victor |
| :: |
| name = Ramblin' Thomas | birth_name = Willard Thomas | birth_date = 1901 or 1902 | birth_place = Logansport, Louisiana, United States | death_date = 1944 or 1945 (aged 41–44) | death_place = Memphis, Tennessee, United States | instrument = {{flatlist|
- Vocals
- Guitar | genre = {{flatlist|
- Texas blues
- Country blues | occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer-songwriter
- Musician | label = Paramount, Victor
Willard "Ramblin'" Thomas (1901 or 1902 – 1944 or 1945) was an American country blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best remembered for his slide guitar playing and for several recordings he made in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Blues scholars seem undecided if his nickname referred to his style of playing or to his itinerant nature. He was the brother of the blues musician Jesse Thomas.
Biography
Thomas was born in Logansport, Louisiana, one of nine children in his family. His father played the fiddle, and Willard and his brothers Joe L. and Jesse learned to play the guitar, with Willard particularly practicing slide guitar techniques.
Thomas relocated to Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas, in the late 1920s and was influenced by the playing of Lonnie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Blake. He performed in San Antonio, Oklahoma and possibly St. Louis, Missouri, in his subsequent travels. He recorded in Dallas and Chicago between 1928 and 1932, for Paramount Records and Victor Records. His playing is said to have influenced Black Ace and Robert Johnson.
Thomas reportedly died of tuberculosis in 1944 or 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Compilations of his work have been released on CD by various record companies, including Document Records, in addition to LPs previously issued by Heritage, Biograph, and Matchbox Records.
Discography
- Ramblin' Mind Blues: Chicago Blues, 1928
- Complete Recorded Works 1928–1932 in Chronological Order, Ramblin' Thomas and the Dallas Blues Singers, compilation album (Document, 1992)
His known recorded songs are the following: ::data[format=table]
| :: |
References
References
- Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ramblin' Thomas: Biography". [[Allmusic]].com.
- (2013). "Blues: A Regional Experience". ABC-CLIO.
- Du Noyer, Paul. (2003). "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music". Flame Tree Publishing.
- Russell, Tony. (1997). "The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray". Carlton Books.
- Evans, David. (2008). "Ramblin' on My Mind: New Perspectives on the Blues". University of Illinois Press.
- (2013). "Blues: A Regional Experience". Praeger.
- "Ramblin' Thomas Discography". Wirz.de.
- (August 15, 1952). "Blues & Gospel – Sonny Terry – Ramblin' Thomas". Rootsandrhythm.com.
- (1995). "[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Guinness Publishing]].
- Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ramblin' Thomas, ''Ramblin' Mind Blues: Chicago Blues, 1928'': Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.com.
- "Ramblin' Thomas, ''1928–1932'': Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.com.
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