Henry Thomas (blues musician)

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Henry Thomas (1874-1950s?). Henry (Ragtime Texas) Thomas was a major pre-war country blues singer and musician. Thomas, born in Big Sandy, Texas, began his musical career as an itinerant songster (minstrel), and recorded twenty-three songs from 1927 to 1929. He accompanied himself with the guitar and the quills, a folk instrument made from cane reeds that sound similar to the quena used by musicians in Peru and Bolivia. Some of his songs are difficult to categorize — they sound more like precursors to blues than like what is now called "blues." They are, therefore, a rare testimony of the kind of music which preceded the establishment of the blues music in the 19th century.

His best-known influence has been through two songs. "Fishin' Blues" was covered by Taj Mahal and The Lovin' Spoonful, and "Bull Doze Blues", was recorded by Canned Heat as "Going Up The Country".

[edit] External links

• Henry Thomas from the Handbook of Texas Online