Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas (who changed his name to Leone in 1974) made his mark in 1969, singing "The Creator Has a Master Plan" with Pharoah Sanders and showing that even avant-garde jazz can become popular under some circumstances. A fairly conventional singer, the most unusual aspect to Thomas was that he often broke out into yodelling in the middle of a vocal, a device since utilized occasionally by James Moody. Thomas, whose early associates included Grant Green, Jimmy Forrest, and Hank Crawford, studied music for two years at Tennessee State University. He moved to New York in 1958, toured with a show sponsored by the Apollo Theater, had two largely unrecorded stints with Count Basie (1961 and 1964-1965), and performed with such jazz artists as Mary Lou Williams, Randy Weston, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and later on Oliver Nelson. After recording "The Creator Has a Master Plan" in 1969 (once under his own name, with the better-known version being on Sanders' Karma), Thomas seemed on the verge of stardom. However, his career faltered and he remained an underground figure. As a leader, Leon Thomas recorded for Flying Dutchman, Blues Time, Mega, the Italian Palcoscenico label (in 1979 with Freddie Hubbard's group); as the leader of a blues-oriented band for Portrait (1988); and for Mapleshade. He also appeared as a sideman in many situations, including on a Louis Armstrong 1970 record and with Carlos Santana (who he worked with in 1971). Thomas died of heart failure on May 8, 1999.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
-
Crash & Burn
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 7 Apr 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Until The End Of Time
R&B - Released by High Standardz - Def Jam on 14 Feb 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Electric Dusk
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 18 Aug 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Breaking Point
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 12 Dec 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Three Shades of Blue
Johnny Hodges, Oliver Nelson, Leon Thomas
Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1970
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Genesis
Pop - Released by Leon Thomas Industries, Inc on 24 Aug 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Breaking Point (Remix)
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 12 Dec 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spirits Known and Unknown
Vocal Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blues and the Soulful Truth
Vocal Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Creator 1969-1973: The Best of the Flying Dutchman Masters
Vocal Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 28 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Electric Dusk
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 18 Aug 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
The Leon Thomas Album
Vocal Jazz - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
X-Rated
Leon Thomas, Benny The Butcher
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 20 May 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Precious Energy (Live at Ethell's)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Door on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain
Jazz - Released by Gulf Coast Records on 27 Aug 1971
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
Crash & Burn (Remix)
R&B - Released by EZMNY Records - Motown Records on 7 Apr 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo