Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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THOMAS, Joe (tenor sax, 1933-2017)

(b Joseph Samuel Thomas, 31 May 1933, Newark NJ; d there 26 July 2017) Saxophonist. He served three years in the U.S. Army and saw combat in Korea. After that war he helped form a group with organist Rhoda Scott (b 3 July 1938) and drummer Bill Elliott. In three years they made two albums. He then formed his own group for nine albums (Plato's Retreat and Masada were reissued on CD) and appeared on others' albums (e.g. with Jimmy McGriff). He performed with blues and gospel singer Carrie Smith on three jazz festival cruises. He was affectionately known as 'The Ebony Godfather', and ended his days playing with the Newark Jazz Elders, who remebered a time in the mid-1950s when there was jazz in every neighbourhood in the city.