American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and occasional vocalist, born June 19, 1909 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania; died August 3, 1986 in Kansas City, Kansas. Notable performances include: "Baby Won't You Please Come Home", "Wham", "Bugs Parade", "Posin'" and "What's Your Story, Morning Glory?".
Recorded and played with several artists, including Horace Henderson (alto saxophone, 1929-30), Stuff Smith (tenor saxophone, 1930-31), and most notably with Jimmie Lunceford (tenor saxophone, clarinet and vocals, 1932-47), whose band he took over with Edwin Wilcox after Lunceford's death.
He left the music business in the mid-1950s to work in the family undertaking business. In the 1960s he started to play again occasionally.
Not to be confused with Joe Thomas (6) and Joseph Thomas (7).
United States· Uniontown