{{Short description|American blues singer and guitarist (1928–1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lafayette Thomas | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | alias = Lafayette "The Thing" Thomas<br/>L. J. Thomas | birth_date = {{birth date|1928|06|13}} | birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|05|20|1928|06|13}} | death_place = Brisbane, California, U.S. | origin = | instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano | genre = Blues | occupation = | years_active = 1947–1975 | label = }}

'''Lafayette Jerl Thomas''' (June 13, 1928 – May 20, 1977)<ref name="Harris">Harris, S. (1981). Blues Who's Who. New York: Da Capo Press, pp. 509–510, {{ISBN|978-0306801556}}</ref> was an American blues singer, and guitarist.

==Early life== Thomas was born on June 13, 1928, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He sang in a local church choir as a youth,<ref name="Harris"/> and was first introduced to blues guitar by his uncle, musician Jesse "Babyface" Thomas.<ref name="Russell">{{cite book | first= Tony | last= Russell | year= 1997 | title= The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray | edition= | publisher=Carlton Books Limited | location= Dubai | page= 177 | isbn= 1-85868-255-X}}</ref>

==Career== Thomas began his music career in 1947 after a move to San Francisco, California,<ref name="Russell"/> playing with Al Simmons’ Rhythm Rockers.<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lafayette-thomas-mn0000780049 |title=Lafayette Thomas &#124; Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=October 7, 2015}}</ref> The following year he joined Jimmy McCracklin's band, and continued to work and record with McCracklin for most of the rest of his life. He also frequently recorded on sessions with other singers, including Jimmy Wilson, from the late 1940s into the 1950s.<ref name="Harris"/><ref name="Allmusic"/> As well as recording with McCracklin, Wilson and others, Thomas recorded a number of sessions of his own during the 1950s, appearing as L. J. Thomas and his Louisiana Playboys, or "Thing" Thomas, on Chess, as Jerry Thomas on Modern, and as Lafayette Thomas on a number of other labels.<ref name="Leadbitter">Leadbitter, M., Fancourt, L. and Pelletier, P. (1994): Blues Records 1943–1970 Vol 2, London: Record Information Services, pp. 591–592</ref>

He temporarily moved to New York City, where he worked with Sammy Price, Memphis Slim, and Little Brother Montgomery between 1958 and 1960 before returning to California.<ref name="Harris"/><ref name="Russell"/>

In 1968 he recorded an album with Dave Alexander and L.C. ‘Good Rockin’’ Robinson for World Pacific Records.<ref name="Allmusic"/> He remained active in the early 1970s, working with Sugar Pie DeSanto and others.<ref name="Harris"/>

Thomas died on May 20, 1977, from a heart attack, in Brisbane, California, at the age of 48.

==Influences and reception==

Nicknamed "The Thing" for his acrobatic playing style,<ref name="Harris"/> Thomas was influenced by his uncle Jesse Thomas,<ref name="Harris"/> and T-Bone Walker.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Writing in ''Living Blues'' magazine in July 1977, Tom Mazzolini, director of the San Francisco Blues Festival said, "Unquestionably the finest guitarist to emerge from the San Francisco-Oakland blues scene, there is hardly a guitarist around here today who doesn't owe a little something to Lafayette Thomas".<ref name="Harris"/>

==Discography==

===As leader===

====Singles==== * "Baby Take A Chance With Me" / "Sam’s Drag" (Chess, 1952) * "Don’t Have To Worry" / "Lost Mind" (Modern, 1954) * "Weekly Blues" / "The Thing" (Trylite, 1955) * "Cockroach Run" / "The Trial" (Jumping, 1957) B-side by 'The Jumping Judge and his Court' * "Please Come Back To Me" / "Lafayette’s A-Coming" (Savoy, 1959)

====Albums==== With L. C. Robinson and Dave Alexander *''Oakland Blues'' (World Pacific, 1969)

===As Sideman=== '''With Little Brother Montgomery''' *''Tasty Blues'' (Bluesville, 1961) '''With Memphis Slim''' *''Just Blues'' (Bluesville, 1961) *''No Strain'' (Bluesville, 1961) '''With Jimmy McCracklin''' *''I Just Gotta Know'' (Imperial, 1963)

==See also== *West Coast blues

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.wirz.de/music/thomasla.htm Lafayette Thomas discography]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Lafayette}} Category:1928 births Category:1977 deaths Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:American blues singers Category:Musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana Category:West Coast blues musicians Category:20th-century American singers Category:Blues musicians from Louisiana Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:Singers from Louisiana Category:Guitarists from Louisiana Category:20th-century American pianists Category:20th-century American male pianists