Leon Thomas

Amos Leon Thomas Jr. (October 4, 1937 – May 8, 1999), known professionally as Leon Thomas, was an American jazz and blues vocalist, born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and known for his bellowing glottal-stop style of free jazz singing in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Life and career Leon Thomas was born Amos Thomas Jr. on October 4, 1937, in East St. Louis, Illinois. He studied music at Tennessee State University. At the time of his studies, he had begun a singing career as a guest vocalist for the jazz bands of percussionist Armando Peraza, saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, and guitarist Grant Green. His musical development at this time was shaped in part by seeing saxophonist John Coltrane perform in trumpeter Miles Davis's sextet during the late 1950s. Thomas moved to New York City in 1959, singing at the Apollo Theater as a vocalist for acts such as jazz ensemble The Jazz Messengers and singer Dakota Staton. In 1961, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra but soon left after being conscripted into the army.

Thomas was discharged from the army in the late 1960s and resumed his music career, first working with avant-garde jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. He later appeared on recordings with saxophonist Gary Bartz and singer Jeri Brown. In the mid-1970s, he adopted "Leon" as his middle name.

AllMusic critic Thom Jurek, impressed especially by The Leon Thomas Album (1970), was mystified by "why this guy wasn't huge", while Tom Hull said, "In a simpler time, he would have been a classic blues shouter."

Discography As leader Spirits Known and Unknown (Flying Dutchman, 1969) The Leon Thomas Album (Flying Dutchman, 1970) Leon Thomas in Berlin (Flying Dutchman, 1971) with Oliver Nelson Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain (Mega, 1971) Blues and the Soulful Truth (Flying Dutchman, 1972) Full Circle (Flying Dutchman, 1973) Precious Energy (Mapleshade, 1990) with Gary Bartz

As sideman With Pharoah Sanders Karma (Impulse!, 1969) Jewels of Thought (Impulse!, 1969) Izipho Zam (My Gifts) (Strata-East, 1973) Shukuru (Theresa, 1985) Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong (Doctor Jazz, 1987)

With Santana Welcome (Columbia, 1973) Lotus (Columbia, 1991)

With others Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong and His Friends (Flying Dutchman/Amsterdam, 1970) Count Basie, Pop Goes the Basie (Reprise, 1965) Jeri Brown, Zaius (Justin Time, 1998) Louis Hayes, Variety Is the Spice (Gryphon, 1979) Johnny Hodges, 3 Shades of Blue (Flying Dutchman, 1970) with Oliver Nelson Dave Liebman, Light'n Up, Please! (Horizon/A&M, 1977) Archie Shepp, Kwanza (Impulse!, 1974) Malachi Thompson, Spirit (Delmark, 1983) Cedar Walton, Soundscapes (Columbia, 1980)