Hociel Thomas

Hociel Thomas

Born on 10 July 1904 in Houston, pianist, Hociel Thomas, was the daughter of pianist, George Thomas, and niece of vocalist, Sippie Wallace. Among Hociel's' compositions were 'Gambler's Dream', 'Sunshine Baby', 'Adam and Eve Had the Blues', 'Put It Where I Can Get It' and 'I've Stopped My Man'.

It was 1923/24 when Hociel headed for Chicago where she met up with her nephew, pianist, Hersal Thomas, with whom she made her first blues recordings in Richmond, Indiana, for the Gennett label in April 1925: 'I Can't Feel Frisky Without My Liquor' (#3004 w 'Morning Dove Blues' by Marie Grinter on flip) and 'I Must Have It' with 'Worried Down with the Blues' (#3006). She began recording for Okeh in May of 1925 per 'Worried Down with the Blues' and 'Fish Tail Dance' (#8222).

'I Can't Feel Frisky Without My Liquor'   Hociel Thomas w Hersal Thomas (piano)

Recorded 6 April 1925 in Richmond IN   Gennett 3004   1st recording

Composition: Hersal Thomas / Hunter

'Worried Down with the Blues'   Hociel Thomas w Hersal Thomas (piano)

Recorded early June 1925 in Chicago   Matrix 9167-A   Okeh 8222

Composition: George & Hociel Thomas

'Fish Tail Dance'   Hociel Thomas w Hersal Thomas (piano)

Recorded early June 1925 in Chicago   Matrix 9168-A   Okeh 8222

Composition: George Thomas

In latter 1925 and early 1926 Thomas recorded several titles with Louis Armstrong's Jazz Four, among which 'Gambler's Dream' saw issue with 'Wash Woman Blues' on OKeh 8289. Those are also found on 'The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings' of 1925-29 issued by Columbia in 2000 [Wikipedia]. This followed the compilation with Armstrong that was issued in December 1995 on 'Hociel Thomas and Lillie Delk Christian in Chronological Order 1925-1928' by Document Records [MusicBrainz].

'Wash Woman Blues'   Hociel Thomas w Louis Armstrong's Jazz Four

Recorded 11 Nov 1925 in Chicago   Okeh 8289

Cornet: Armstrong   Clarinet: Johnny Dodds

Piano: Hersal Thomas   Banjo: Johnny St. Cyr

Composition: Hociel Thomas

'Deep Water Blues'   Hociel Thomas

Recorded 24 Feb 1926 in Chicago   Matrix 9519-A   Okeh 8297

Cornet: Louis Armstrong   Piano: Hersal Thomas

Composition: Hociel Thomas

'Lonesome Hours'   Hociel Thomas

Recorded 24 Feb 1926 in Chicago   Matrix 9522-A   Okeh 8297

Cornet: Louis Armstrong   Piano: Hersal Thomas

Composition: Hociel Thomas

'Lonesome Hours' was the last title that Hociel recorded for another two decades. Dropping away from the music profession, she lived obscurely through both the Depression and World War II until showing up in Oakland, California, to play piano on what would be her final tracks with trumpeter, Mutt Carey, in 1946. Those saw common issue in 1954 on the LP 'Plays the Blues' (Riverside RLP 1042) [Discogs].

'Go Down Sunshine'   Hociel Thomas (piano) w Mutt Carey (trumpet)

Recorded 30 Aug 1936 in San Francisco   Circle J1014

Composition: Hociel Thomas

Continuing onward to work with Kid Ory in San Francisco, in 1948 Hociel killed a sister in an argument during which she herself was permanently blinded. Later acquitted of manslaughter, she died in Oakland on 22 August 1952 of heart failure [FindaGrave].