Chris Thomas King

NIGHT OF BLUES SHINES THROUGH
Written by Gina Tutko-Usalis/July 2009

WOW! I can not think of another word for this introduction into such an enjoyable evening. On Friday night, July 24th Gullifty’s Underground in coordination with Atomic Farm Entertainment hosted a night of Blues – Nate Myers & The Aces supporting Grammy Award Winner -Chris Thomas King.

Local music lovers are very familiar with Nate Myers and The Aces (NM&A) comprised of Nate “The Derry St. Tiger” Myers (vocals/harmonica), Pete “The Godfather of West Shore Soul” Netznik (bass/vocals), Mike “Baby Doo” Noll (drums/vocals) and Chris “Snake Panini” Purcell (guitar/vocals); fans of the band often indulge in singing tunes off their latest CD Persist with songs such as “Jager & Waffles”, “When Are You Coming Home”, “Angel”, “Put It Where She Told Me “ and one of my favorites “Just Be There”. One of the most popular bands in the area, Nate Myers and The Aces play out three times a week or more. They have a new live CD due for release this Fall. The show was top-notch. Nate stated, “We had a fabulous time! Chris was very gracious and accessible. We would be honored to share the stage with Chris again”!

This night was destined to be one heck of a night on the local music scene. After the opening set it was time for the Chris Thomas King Trio. Every table in the joint was taken along with the seats that surrounded the bar. The folks were clamoring and full of anticipation. As the lights dimmed, I saw a gentleman make his way to the stage. Dressed in a stark, button down white dress shirt and crisp suit, Chris Thomas King (vocals/guitar) was ready to bring on the Blues. He picked up his guitar and started playing a 12 bar bent anthem and was quickly joined on stage by Jeff Mills (drums) and Ryan Clute (electric bass/upright). Some of the crowd couldn’t wait to jump out on the dance floor to get down to the swaggering, rhythmic, melodic tunes. Winding down a bit from his opening song this cordial voice said, “Thank you so much! Welcome out, y’all. My name is Chris Thomas King all the way from N’awlins y’all. We got more New Orleans music for you tonight. We’re just gettin’ started!! How about nice rounds of applause for our opening band tonight y’all, they sounded really good, right!?

The night of storytelling blues began with songs such as ” St James Infirmary”, “Big Yellow Taxi” “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” and “What Would Jesus Do? just to name a few. Chris Thomas King and his fellow musicians took us on a journey not to be forgotten anytime soon.

Chris Thomas King is one of seven children born to Ernest and Jocelyn Thomas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father better known as Tabby “King of the Swamp Blues” Thomas or “Rockin” Tabby Thomas has been Chris’s role model in so many ways. Chris learned to play trumpet and guitar since the age of eight. He has been surrounded by musicians most of his life as his father was a respected Bluesman and Club Owner. Tabby’s Blues Box & Heritage Hall opened in the late 1970’s. The first and only Blues Club of its kind at that time where you could listen to live music and a place that was patronized by all nationalities. This is where Chris got his start. Many famous people came into the club such as the O’Jays, Mike Tyson, Harold Robbins, Paul Newman, Bruce Springsteen and Shaquille O’Neal just to name a few. In 2004 while waiting to perform one night Tabby suffered a massive stroke. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was a patient for several months. Later that year, Tabby closed the doors of Tabby’s Blues Box & Heritage Hall. When asked about his father he stated, “My Dad is now retired at the age of 80 and he no longer plays.” He still sings and hosts a radio show on Baton Rouge stations WBRH-FM/KBRH-AM on Saturday afternoons.

As an entrepreneur, Chris is known as a rap/blues pioneer. He will tell you that being a musician is not about wealth/money but it is for the love of music. That does not mean you should not be a smart businessman as Chris stated when interviewed for Loyola University saying, ” establish your business as a LLC, report your income and pay your taxes.” He took control of his master recordings and formed 21st Century Records, LLC. He also established a publishing company, Young Blues Rebel, LLC.

As an actor, Chris Thomas King has co-starred in the musical films Ray (as Lowell Fulson) and O Brother Where Art Thou? (as Tommy Johnson) and has starred in the film The Soul of a Man (as Blind Willie Johnson). Chris has won awards including album “Album of the Year” for both Grammy Award and Country Music Awards. He has sold more than 10 million records in the United States and he is featured on the soundtracks of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Down From The Mountain and More Music From Ray. Some in the business would say Chris is known as a triple threat being a musician, singer and actor.He is the only blues artists to have a major impact on hip-hop music influencing the likes of Nas, Kenye West, Bubba Sparks, Cowboy Troy, Mos Def, Common and others.

On a more personal note, Chris lost his Uptown New Orleans home and studio to Hurricane Katrina and is still in the process of rebuilding four years later. Days after the levees broke, Katrina influenced this acclaimed blues artist to write the song “What Would Jesus Do?” which inspired the CD Rise. Commenting on the Rise CD, I must say the songwriting is demonstrative of the unfathable emotion so many victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced. I find this entire CD so impressionable with marked attention gived to “Flow Mississippi Flow” which absolutely makes me weep. Chris dedicated his CD Rise to his mother, Jocelyn Thomas who passed away in December 2005.

Now after more than 20+ years, Chris Thomas King is one of the most famous and successful blues artists in the world. The 2009 World Tour has taken him to various locations – Africa to the United States then Japan and back to the States again eventually wrapping it up at the end of the year to be home for the holidays. Nonetheless, he has not lost his touch to interact with his fans, signing autographs and engaging in conversation. Meeting Chris on this night was the highlight of being a music enthusiast!! He was warm, soft spoken and one of the most approachable gentlemen I have encountered. I know I speak for others when I say, “I hope he visits our area often.” I truly look forward to following his future success in all his endeavors.

Jeff Mills (drums) started playing at the age of six. In those early years, piano was his instrument but as he hit his early teens he was fascinated with the drums. He has studies privately with some of the finest percussion instructors in the world such as: Alan Dawson, Ricky Sebastian, Johnny Vidacovich, Gary Chaffee, Henrique De Almeida, Casey Scheuerell and Dr. John Wooton. Jeff graduated the University of Mississippi and moved to New Orleans in 2002. During that time he took on a three year gig at The Famous Door on Bourbon Street working with jazz guitarist Chris Cortez. Also in New Orleans he served as worship leader at Gretna United Methodist Church.

Jeff has many accomplishments and has recorded three critically acclaimed albums under the Blue Bamboo Music label which are Groovopolis, Hold It Right There and Mums The World. As well as being a performer, Jeff has become known as an instructor, marching instructor and clinician teaching at various institutions such as USM, D’Iberville High School, USM Summer Marching Camp, etc. In 2004 Jeff became a member of the Vic Firth education team. After Hurricane Katrina, Jeff returned to Hattiesburg area to the faculty at Hattiesburg High School, Burger Middle School and the First Baptist Hattiesburg. Jeff also plays at many Jazz festivals. He continues to maintain a very active recording/performing schedule and it was a real pleasure to experience him at Gullifty’s.

Ryan Clute (electric bass/upright/vocals) had a bit of a homecoming this weekend, born and raised in Slippery Rock, PA . Ryan tells me, ” I started playing at the age of four, when my parents were able to find a piano teacher that would take me. From then, I moved on to trombone at the age of 10 and the bass around 12. My early influences were mostly classical and jazz composers: Chopin, Mozart, Bartok, Grieg, Wagner, Kabalevsky, Joplin, Mingus, Pastorius, Chick Corea, Woody Herman, Herb Alpert, and so on. …!” Moving to Carlisle at the age of 16 he graduated from Carlisle High School. Ryan played at Gullifty’s once before at the age of seventeen! On this particular night Ryan’s concern was making any “huge flubs” in front of his high school band director.

Ryan moved to New Orleans in 2000. He resides there with his wife, son and soon a new arrival. “Over the last 9 years, I have played and recorded with : Marva Wright, John Gros, Gary Brown, Bryan Lee, Marc Adams, Coco Robicheaux, Joe Krown, Vasti Jackson, Johnny Sansome, C.P. Love, Amy Trail, and a whole slew of Blues.R&B acts. I also teach and write jingles for TV and radio,” stated Ryan. He has teamed up with Chris Thomas King and is enjoying every moment! Ryan tells me this trip was an experience with an old school mindset meaning no glitz and glamour just driving, taking in the views that Mother Nature provided and focusing on the performances. Sometimes less is more! After the groovin’ performance at Gullifty’s, the Trio headed to the Pocono Blues Festival whereas Ryan got to visit with his parents, other family and friends. Let’s hope Ryan comes back to his hometown area here in PA more often so we can soak in his wonderful talent!

Special thank you to Matt Eisenhouer from Gullifty’s Underground and Marc T. Levin from Atomic Farm Entertainment for all their efforts setting up a fantastic evening of Blues!