The search for Lafayette "Thing" Thomas

WORK IN PROGRESS

Lafayette 'Thing' Thomas
Born
Jun 13, 1928 in Shreveport, LA
Died
May 20, 1977 in Brisbane, CA
(total bio of Lafayette Thomas in All Music Guide).

I've seen his name on many tunes by others. He's on the Chess lablel back in the 60s. on a CD called "Chess Blues Guitar: Twenty years of killer fretwork, 1949-1969."


He worked for Jimmy McCracklin the 1950s and 60s. All Music Guide: "... by 1951, Lafayette "Thing" Thomas was installed as the searing guitarist with McCracklin's Blues Blasters and remained invaluable to the pianist into the early '60s."
Unfortunately, this guitarist is Robert Kelton.
This (Ace Records) one has two songs fronted by "Jerry" Thomas:

He's the guitar player on this Little Brother Montgomery Lp from 1960.



He's on a third of a 60s World Pacific (?) LP called "Oakland Blues". I've only seen a bad photo of the cover on eBay.

Bob Geddins made a bunch of singles with him. I've now found the CDs "West Coast Guitar Killers, Vols. 1 & 2." They have several of his singles on them.

I've never seen his picture for sure--he might be in the background of a McCracklin photo I've seen. But really, there's no picture of Lafayette 'Thing' Thomas. I don't know if the picture on the McCracklin CD is Thomas or Robert Kelton.

Al Jansen on Post War Blues-L writes: Rolf/ Bert, The Lafayette Thomas interview (by Tom Mazzolino) is in LB # 33. July/August 1977. It has (only) one picture of Lafayette, a picture by Paul Kohl.

Bert van Oortmarsen emailed me two jpegs of the Living Blues #33 photo and article. Soon to come as soon as I figure out the best way.

Stefan Wirz on Post War Blues-L writes:The Living Blues picture's also in Blues Who's Who, page 509.

Alan Balfour on Post War Blues-L writes:
Performing a "find" on my electronic copy of Blues Records 1943-70 throws up
the following instances of Lafayette Thomas in the role of accompanist:

Zuzu Bollin,
Juke Boy Bonner,
Bob Geddins,
Roy Hawkins,
Jimmy McCracklin,
Memphis Slim,
Roland Mitchell,
Little Brother Montgomery,
Muddy Waters,
Johnny Parker,
James Reed,
A.C. Robinson,
Jimmy Wilson