Earl Thomas Bridgeman (born August 29, 1960) is an American blues singer from California, United States. He is also a songwriter, with songs covered by artists including Tom Jones, Etta James, Solomon Burke and Screamin' Jay Hawkins. He has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won the San Diego Music Award four times. [1]
Thomas was born in Pikeville, Tennessee, United States and attended Humboldt State University. [2]
He started out playing the Arcata clubs in the early 1980s while still at university. [3] He was at an open mic night at an Arcata club and sang the Jackson Browne number "Something Fine", which marked the start of his performance career. [4]
In the early 1990s, he moved to San Diego, California. [2] His Blue... Not Blues album was released in 1991 and received favorable reviews, referred to by one reviewer as "a pleasant surprise". [5] [6] His self-penned song, "I Sing the Blues", was a hit for Etta James. [7]
In 2008 he played at the Russian River Blues Festival in Sonoma County, California. [3]
In August 2016, Thomas appeared at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne, Lancashire, England. [8]