Hociel Thomas

Singer and pianist Hociel Thomas (married name "Tebo") was a member of the Houston, Texas-based Thomas family. Her father was George W. Thomas, who made the first boogie-woogie solo on records, "The Rocks," for Okeh in October, 1923. Hociel Thomas' nephew was pianist and bandleader Hersal Thomas, composer of the popular "Suitcase Blues." Hociel Thomas' aunt was blues legend Sippie Wallace. You might conclude that her fortune would have been easily made, given her royal family connections. On the contrary, her career was marked by unimaginable personal tragedies and her work is preserved on only 22 recordings, most of which are mainly remembered on account of the musicians who worked with her.



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