Topic: R.I.P. Pat Thomas

[jed]

From Bill Steber:

Pat Thomas, son of the late Delta legend James “Son” Thomas, has died. He is seen here reflected in a mirror with one of his cat head drawings at his home in Leland, MS in 2001. Pat and his father were the first blues folks i met in the Delta on my first trip in 1992 and Pat has always held a very special place in my heart. He loved his father dearly and spent his too-brief life following in his father’s footsteps. And like his father, Pat worked at many jobs including grave digging. His own music focused on his father’s repertoire, singing in the same falsetto voice that made “Son” Thomas internationally known. And like his father, Pat became known for his evocative clay sculptures depicting skulls, animals, and “gypsy men” which, according to Thomas, possessed supernatural power. Both Roger Stolle’s Cat Head store in Clarksdale and Mississippi’s Cat Head brand vodka were inspired by his signature cat head drawings. Most days you could catch impromptu performances by Thomas at Billy Johnson’s Hwy 61 museum in Leland MS. I knew Pat longer than anyone else in Mississippi (33 years) and his loss to the local culture is immeasurable.

https://www.instagram.com/stonesinmypathway/

[islandgal]

I was not familiar with Pat Thomas. Thanks for the link. Bill Steber's photographs are stellar. Highly recommended.