10 Facts About Tabby Thomas

Tabby Thomas sang and played the piano and guitar and specialized in swamp blues, a style of blues indigenous to southern Louisiana.

Tabby Thomas made a few unsuccessful recordings for Hollywood Records and then he returned to Baton Rouge.

Tabby Thomas recorded for several small local labels, before he became more successful with Excello Records, based in Crowley, Louisiana; his records for Excello included "Hoodo Party" in 1961.

Tabby Thomas worked in various jobs, including a time with Ciba Geigy, when he was a union steward.

Tabby Thomas became one of the best-known blues musicians in Baton Rouge with his band, the Mellow, Mellow Men, but briefly retired from performing in the late 1960s to set up his own record label, Blue Beat, which released his recordings and those of other local musicians.

Tabby Thomas ran the venue as an authentic blues club, Tabby's Blues Box and Heritage Hall.

Tabby Thomas became a popular performer in the UK and Europe, where he made regular appearances.

Tabby Thomas had a serious automobile accident in 2002 and a stroke in 2004, which affected his playing but not his singing.

Tabby Thomas later hosted the radio show Tabby's Blues Box on the Baton Rouge stations WBRH-FM and KBRH-AM.

Tabby Thomas died in the early hours of January 1,2014, and was interred at Port Hudson National Cemetery.