Life and Career
Born in Eden, Mississippi, United States, Thomas was known as a folk artist for his sculptures made from un-fired clay which he dug out of the banks of the Yazoo River. His most famous sculpted images were skulls (often featuring actual human teeth) which mirrored his job as a gravedigger and his often stated philosophy that "we all end up in the clay". In 1985, Thomas had his work featured in the prestigious Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. where he was introduced to Mrs. Nancy Reagan then First Lady. Thomas' skulls can also be found on display in several blues museums throughout Mississippi including the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale and the small Leland Blues Museum in Leland. Thomas played at numerous blues festivals and private parties throughout the area including the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville.
His later performances saw him accompanied by Swiss harmonica player Walter Liniger. Thomas was recorded by several small record labels and is probably best known for his album Gateway to the Delta which was recorded by Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, although he remains an obscure figure outside of dedicated blues communities.
He appeared in the films Delta Blues Singer: James "Sonny Ford" Thomas in 1970 and Give My Poor Heart Ease: Mississippi Delta Bluesmen in 1975, plus the short Mississippi Delta Blues in 1974.
He died in 1993 in Greenville, Mississippi, from a combination of emphysema and a stroke.
Thomas is buried in Leland and memorialized by a headstone placed in 1996 by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund and paid for by John Fogerty. His epitaph consists of lyrics from one of his songs. His son, Pat Thomas, continues to play and perform his father's songs.
Read more about this topic: James Thomas (blues Musician)
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