Thomas Trio and the Red Albino

Last updated
Thomas Trio and the Red Albino
Origin St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Genres funk rock
pop rock
Labels Cargo Records
Past membersJody Richardson
Louis Thomas
David "Lil" Thomas
Danny Thomas
Linda Kronbergs
Lori Cooper

Thomas Trio and the Red Albino were a Canadian funk rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland, [1] who were active from 1988 to 1993. They are best known for their singles "142 Thru" and "Sun Risin'".

The band formed in 1988 as Thomas Trio, consisting of brothers Louis, David ("Lil") and Danny Thomas. [2] Jody Richardson, nicknamed "The Red Albino" because of the juxtaposition between his red hair and pale skin, joined as vocalist soon after, adding his nickname to the band's name since they were no longer just a trio. [2] Keyboardist Lori Cooper, Danny's wife, [3] was also later added to the lineup with no further name change. [2]

They released their debut album Jam It Inya independently in 1989, and in 1990 they competed in and won a national "battle of the bands" competition sponsored by Molson Canadian; [4] this, in turn, enabled them to represent Canada at the international Yamaha Band Explosion competition in Japan in 1991. [5] Although they did not win that competition, favourable reaction resulted in them quickly building a reputation as a strong live band. [6]

They then moved to Toronto to be closer to the centre of the Canadian music industry, [6] although Cooper left the band at this time because she had just given birth to her first child and did not want to tour extensively, [3] and was replaced on keyboards by Linda Kronbergs. [6] In the same year they released a video for the single "142 Thru", [7] and won a CASBY Award for Favourite New Eastern Canadian Group. [8] "142 Thru" became the first independent video in the history of MuchMusic to be graduated from light to medium rotation. [9]

Their self-titled album was released on Cargo Records in 1992, [10] garnering radio airplay for the single "Sun Risin'" and an appearance on Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui in early 1993. [11] By this time the band had such a strong reputation for its live show that Louis Thomas began extending a money back guarantee to any dissatisfied audience members. [11]

The band announced its breakup in summer 1993, before releasing another album, due to creative stagnation. [2] They played a final show in Waterloo, Ontario on September 30 of that year, and later performed a one-off reunion show for a benefit concert in St. John's in 1997. [12]

Richardson went on to form the bands Fur Packed Action and Pathological Lovers, and took some acting roles including in the CBC Television sitcom Gullage's and the film The Divine Ryans . [12] Louis Thomas went on to become manager of Great Big Sea, Danny Thomas became a technician for bands including Great Big Sea, and Lil Thomas became a recording engineer in Danny Greenspoon's studio. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power trio</span> Rock band format having a lineup of electric guitar, bass, and drums

A power trio is a rock and roll band format having a lineup of electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit, leaving out a designated vocalist or an additional rhythm guitar or keyboard instrument that are often used in other rock music bands that are quartets and quintets. Larger rock bands often use one or more additional rhythm sections to fill out the sound with chords and harmony parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings of Rhythm</span> Band led by Ike Turner

The Kings of Rhythm are an American music group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has undergone considerable line-up changes over time.

The Grapes of Wrath is a Canadian alternative rock band.

hHead were a Canadian alternative rock band, formed in 1991 in Ajax.

Newfoundland and Labrador is an Atlantic Canadian province with a folk musical heritage based on the Irish, English and Cornish traditions that were brought to its shores centuries ago. Though similar in its Celtic influence to neighboring Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador music is more Irish than Scottish and has more elements imported from English and Cornish music than those provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Hargrove</span> American jazz trumpeter (1969–2018)

Roy Anthony Hargrove was an American jazz musician and composer whose principal instruments were the trumpet and flugelhorn. He achieved worldwide acclaim after winning two Grammy Awards for differing styles of jazz in 1998 and 2002. Hargrove primarily played in the hard bop style for the majority of his albums, but also had a penchant for genre-crossing exploration and collaboration with a variety of hip hop, soul, R&B and alternative rock artists. As Hargrove told one reporter, "I've been around all kinds of musicians, and if a cat can play, a cat can play. If it's gospel, funk, R&B, jazz or hip-hop, if it's something that gets in your ear and it's good, that's what matters."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waltons (band)</span>

Waltons were a Canadian folk rock band, active primarily in the 1990s. The band released three studio albums during their career, and won a Juno Award for Best New Group at the Juno Awards of 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sons of Freedom (band)</span>

Sons of Freedom were a Canadian alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band, consisting of vocalist James Newton, guitarist Don Harrison, bassist Don Binns and drummer Don Short, formed in 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Hardship Post was a Canadian alternative rock band, that formed in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1992 and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the Halifax Pop Explosion of the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Jazz Festival</span> Annual music festival in California

The Monterey Jazz Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Monterey, California, United States. It debuted on October 3, 1958, championed by Dave Brubeck and co-founded by jazz and popular music critic Ralph J. Gleason and jazz disc jockey Jimmy Lyons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Hallett</span> Canadian musician and founding member of the Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea

Robert "Bob" Hallett is a Canadian musician, author, producer, and entrepreneur, best known as a founding member of the Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea (1993–2013). He is also a native of St. John's, Newfoundland, Hallett co-founded Great Big Sea in 1993, with Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, and Darrell Power. The band sold over a million and half records around the world, over a twenty-year period. Through his company, Kilbride Music, Hallett has managed bands and produced records, radio specials, and live concerts. Hallet is a vocal proponent of talent development within the Newfoundland and East Coast Music Industries, and has authored a career guidebook for aspiring musicians. He works with the producers of the Broadway musical Come From Away as a Music Consultant, and has also worked at the Stratford Festival as a Composer & Music Director. As an author he has written dozens of magazine articles, essays and several books, including the best-selling memoir Writing Out The Notes. He is the owner of Erin's Pub and Tavola Restaurant in downtown St. John's. Hallett currently plays accordion and other instruments in the band Kelly Russell and the Planks; he has also been associated with The Once, The Dardanelles, Fabian James, and the Irish Descendants, in various capacities.

Grady Thomas is a former member of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Schofield</span> English guitarist and singer

Matt Schofield is an English blues guitarist and singer. His band, the Matt Schofield Trio, play their own material, a blend of blues, funk and jazz, as well as covers of blues classics such as Albert Collins' "Lights Are On, But Nobody's Home".

Terrence William James Ryan is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and actor. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens eighth overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft and played eight games with the organization between 1996 and 1999.

Chad Richardson is a Canadian musician from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. He released two rock albums on the Aquarius label in the 1990s. Richardson also starred in the Canadian production of the musical Rent, where he was nominated for a Dora Award.

Ronnie Burrage is an American jazz drummer. His style draws from jazz, funk, and soul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter "Wolfman" Washington</span> American singer and guitarist (1943–2022)

Walter "Wolfman" Washington was an American singer and guitarist, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. While his roots were in blues music, he blended in the essence of funk and R&B to create his own unique sound.

Gary Kulesha is a Canadian composer, pianist, conductor, and educator. Since 1995, he has been Composer Advisor to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has been Composer-in-Residence with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (1988–1992) and the Canadian Opera Company (1993–1995). He was awarded the National Arts Centre Orchestra Composer Award in 2002. He currently teaches on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.

Modern Science is an American pop/rock band from Las Vegas founded by Kane Churko and Mike McHugh with funk, electro, hip hop and R&B influences. Canadian songwriter/producer Kane Churko is the front man and lead singer for the band and primary writer and producer of all of Modern Science's music. Kane is the son of producer Kevin Churko who is also a frequent co-producer of the band's material.

Secret Nation is a 1992 political thriller written by Edward Riche, directed by Mike Jones and starring Cathy Jones.

References

  1. ↑ "Thomas Trio on the move". Canadian Composer, Vol. 4 (1993). p. 16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Popular St. John's Band Breaking Up". The Telegram .
  3. 1 2 "Newfoundland quintet on a roll: Win at national rock showdown only the beginning". Ottawa Citizen , April 19, 1991.
  4. ↑ "Newfoundland's answer to rock". The Province , September 12, 1990.
  5. ↑ "Newfie quintet bowls over judges in Japan; High-spirited blend of funk and rock provides songs that are very easy to dance to". Edmonton Journal , January 25, 1991.
  6. 1 2 3 "Thomas boys track flight of the Albino". Toronto Star , August 30, 1991.
  7. ↑ "Newfoundland rockers fight backwater image". Kingston Whig-Standard , December 17, 1992.
  8. ↑ "Crash Test Dummies, Barenaked Ladies dominate CASBYs". Montreal Gazette , December 2, 1991.
  9. ↑ "Heard the one about the Newfie Trio with 5 members?" Eye Weekly , December 10, 1991.
  10. ↑ "Trio keeping independence". Halifax Daily News , July 24, 1992.
  11. 1 2 "There's no influence like no influence, musicians say". Edmonton Journal , March 26, 1993.
  12. 1 2 3 "Return of the Trio: One of the hottest bands ever to hit the local club scene is getting together one more time for a benefit concert". The Telegram , May 16, 1997.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.