Hersal Thomas

Hersal Thomas

Source: BlueBlack Jazz

Born on 9 September 1906 in Houston, blues pianist, Hersal Thomas, was instrumental in the development of boogie woogie as younger brother to George Thomas by twenty-one years. He had Sippie Wallace for a sister and Hociel Thomas for a niece. He is thought to have issued his first recordings in 1925 on Okeh 8227, again in the UK on Parlophone R 3262: 'Suitcase Blues' and 'Hersal's Blues'. Though they were the only solo recordings Thomas made, he soon thereafter began working with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong alongside his sister, Sippie, also backing his niece, Hociel, on her first recordings. Most session dates below per Juan Fecit, matrices per DAHR.

'Suitcase Blues'   Piano solo by Hersal Thomas

Recorded Feb 1925 in Chicago   Matrix 8958   Okeh 8227

Composed by Hersal Thomas

'Morning Dove Blues'   Hersal Thomas backing Sippie Wallace w King Oliver

Recorded 24 Feb 1925 in NYC  Matrix 8964   Okeh 8205 A

Composed by George Thomas

'Devil Dance Blues'   Hersal Thomas backing Sippie Wallace w King Oliver

Recorded 24 Feb 1925 in NYC  Matrix 8965   Okeh 8206

Composed by Sippie Wallace

'Every Dog Has His Day'   Hersal Thomas backing Sippie Wallace w King Oliver

Recorded 24 Feb 1925 in NYC  Matrix 8966   Okeh 8205 B

Composed by Sippie Wallace

'I Feel Good'   Hersal Thomas backing Sippie Wallace w Louis Armstrong

Recorded 3 March 1926 in Chicago   Okeh 8345

Composed by Hersal Thomas

Thomas is thought to have died of food poisoning on June 2, 1926, in Detroit, only nineteen years old. Among his compositions was the boogie woogie standard, 'The Fives', with elder brother, George, in 1922.