[Dixielandjazz] John Thomas Revisited

[Robert Newman]

> Hey Robert,  In my response to your posting about John I neglected to ask 
> you if you play or did play with the Fulton Jazz Band?  Chuck Kercher

Yes I did, Chuck -- From 1970 through 1998, and wrote many of the ensemble arrangements we played.    I quit the band at age 75 because I thought  playing over that age would be out of place.    Anyway, thanks for the connect with John -- I will follow through and tell him I really admire him and enjoyed playing with him in '82 and '83.   After John, we had Ed Polcer, Tom Pletcher,  and Dick Cathcart.   Memories worth remembering.    I have recodings of all of those weekends, thanks to Smokey Lawrence.

Bob


> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Newman" <bobngaye at surewest.net>
> To: <ekercher at tampabay.rr.com>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 5:51 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] How Many John Thomases?
> 
> 
>> You guys are talking about maybe two John Thomases and I have a question. 
>> In the 1980's I played about 6 happy weekends with Merle Koch's group at 
>> the Silver Stope in Virginia City, NV.   The trumpeter was John Thomas, a 
>> good mc, singer, and player -- and a very fine gentleman.    When cancer 
>> caught up with Merle, John went away.   The last time I saw him was in the 
>> '90's at Clearwater, FLA at the festival.
>>
>> Is he the same John Thomas as all of those other guys?    I wonder if 
>> they're all related to John Charles Thomas or the famous and beautiful 
>> Thomas Flyer?     Or the Thomas For The Tommies?
>>
>> Bob Newman