Joe Thomas (trumpeter)

Joe Thomas (July 24, 1909 – August 6, 1984) was an American swing jazz trumpeter, who was born in Webster Groves, Missouri, and died in New York City, New York.

Biography

Thomas started his music career with Cecil Scott in 1928, and played throughout the Midwest before moving to New York in 1934, where he became one of the most sought-after trumpeters of the 1930s and '40s. Those he worked with include Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra (1934–37), Fats Waller, Benny Carter (1939–40), Joe Sullivan and Teddy Wilson's Sextet (1942–43),^[1] Claude Hopkins and many others.^[2][3] He featured in Art Kane's iconic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem.

Discography

With Coleman Hawkins

• Coleman Hawkins All Stars (Swingville, 1960) - with Vic Dickenson

References

External links

• "Remembering Joe Thomas", Jazz Lives, June 11, 2009.
• "Soulful Elegance: Joe Thomas, trumpet", Jazz Lives, July 20, 2012.