Overview[]
Henry Thomas was an early African-American Guitarist. He also played the Quills in a Harmonica Holder. His style is a good example of what African-American Guitar Music may have sounded like before the development of the Blues. He considered a Songster by some, because of his wide repertoire and Medicine Show experience.
Biography[]
Henry 'Ragtime Texas' Thomas was born in 1874 in Big Sandy, Texas. He played on the street in Dallas, dances, birthday parties, Trains, and any other place he felt like playing in. He was a Hobo who traveled throughout the south by the Texas Railroad and Pacific Railroad. Mac McCormic met him in 1949; he said that he was a big man, about 6' 3" (McCormick 1974). After 1929, he completely disappeared; not much was known about him apart from some accounts from people who claimed they saw him. It is believed that he died some time in the late 1950s.
Albums Featured[]
- The Anthology Of American Folk Music
- Texas Worried Blues (album)
- Henry Thomas (album)
- Broadcasting The Blues
- Southern Country Blues
- Across The Tracks
- The Cornshucker's Frolic (album)
- Ragtime Texas, Complete Recorded Works
- Henry Thomas Sings The Texas Blues!
- Electric Apricot
- The Road To Robert Johnson And Beyond
- The Music Never Stopped
- Roots Of Rock
- The Roots Of Robert Johnson
- The Greatest In Country Blues
- Before The Blues
- Southern Country Blues
- The Roots Of Rap
- Times Ain't Like They Used To Be
- Gospel: Rock My Soul
- The Story That The Crow Told Me (album)
- The Gospel Train Is Leaving 1930-1945
- Blues Anthems
- Smithsonian Collection Of Classic Blues Singers
- Tex-Arkana-Louisiana Country
- Going Away Blues 1926-1935
- Country Bottleneck Guitar Classics
- Voice Of The Blues
- Really! The Country Blues
- King Of The Blues, 10
- Country Blues (album)
- Good For What Ails You!
- Texas Country Music
- Southern Sanctified Singers
Original Discography[]
- Fishing Blues
- Old Country Stomp
- Charmin' Betsy
- Lovin' Babe
- Railroadin' Some
- Don't Leave Me Here
- The Little Red Caboose
- Bob McKinney (song)
- Honey, Won't You Allow Me One More Chance?
- Run, Mollie, Run
- Shanty Blues
- Woodhouse Blues
- John Henry (song)
- Cottonfield Blues
- Arkansas (song)
- The Fox and the Hounds
- Red River Blues
- Jonah in the Wilderness
- When the Train Comes Along
- Bull Doze Blues
- Don't Ease Me In
- Texas Easy Street
- Texas Worried Blues
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