Michael J Thomas
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph Thomas better known as his stage name
Michael J Thomas, is a jazz musician, saxophonist, and composer
. He is a native of Elizabethtown
, Kentucky who resides in Destin
, Florida. His early influences were from Stevie Wonder
, Earth, Wind & Fire
, Michael Jackson
, and Prince
. “Initially Thomas studied piano at the age of seven and didn’t pick up the saxophone until seventh grade upon entering West Hardin Middle School band. Early in high school (Central Hardin High School), he suffered a setback when rejected by students of the high school band because he didn’t play proficiently enough. Undeterred, Michael committed himself to mastering the instrument. By his senior year, he redeemed himself by winning talent shows, performing in the All-State Jazz Band, and was honored with a John Philip Sousa Award. He earned a music scholarship to the University of Kentucky, but left school early to pursue a career as a performer. Thomas was 19 when he joined the Jive Rockets, which opened for the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy and Bill Haley’s Original Comets.”
“City Beat” is Michael’s first national release. On its release date of March 2, 2010, the single “City Beat” peaked at position #4 on the Amazon smooth jazz chart. The infectious, upbeat title track hit #1 on Canadian based Smooth Jazz Now’s singles chart. It later debuted at #45 on the smooth jazz.com airplay list. It debuted at #24 on Billboard’s smooth jazz Indicator Chart. Millions watching The Weather Channel are also getting hip to Thomas’ melodic mix of upbeat grooves and sensual ballads. A total of five songs from City Beat are receiving regular spins there, including “City Beat,” “Amante Del Vino,” “Back Home”, “30-A Degrees” and “Wedding Song (Forever Always).” These breakthrough achievements for the small town Kentucky native (Cecilia, outside of Elizabethtown) are all the more incredible when you realize that he’s a purely DIY artist with no formal label backing. Denis Poole said this about Thomas, “ Michael may yet turn out to be the smooth jazz find of 2010.”
Prior to his national breakthrough as a recording artist, Thomas had built a strong and regional following performing at local venues, private shows, festivals, and concerts. He has performed several times at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, on bills featuring some of the biggest stars in smooth jazz: Dave Koz
, Richard Elliot
, Boney James
, Brian Culbertson
, Kirk Whalum
, Peter White
, Rick Braun
, Joyce Cooling
, Steve Cole
, Euge Groove
, Mindi Abair
, and Nick Colionne. In 2006, the saxman was named Best of the Emerald Coast
in the “Best Musician/Vocalist/Band” category.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Michael J Thomas, is a jazz musician, saxophonist, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is a native of Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown
-Places:Elizabethtown is the name of several places in the United States:*Elizabethtown, California*Elizabethtown, Illinois*Elizabethtown, Indiana*Elizabethtown, Kentucky*Elizabethtown, New York*Elizabethtown, New Mexico*Elizabethtown, North Carolina...
, Kentucky who resides in Destin
Destin
Destin may refer to:*Destin, Florida, United States, city in Okaloosa County*Destin , 1995 single by Céline Dion, from the album D'eux*Destin Makita , football player...
, Florida. His early influences were from Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. “Initially Thomas studied piano at the age of seven and didn’t pick up the saxophone until seventh grade upon entering West Hardin Middle School band. Early in high school (Central Hardin High School), he suffered a setback when rejected by students of the high school band because he didn’t play proficiently enough. Undeterred, Michael committed himself to mastering the instrument. By his senior year, he redeemed himself by winning talent shows, performing in the All-State Jazz Band, and was honored with a John Philip Sousa Award. He earned a music scholarship to the University of Kentucky, but left school early to pursue a career as a performer. Thomas was 19 when he joined the Jive Rockets, which opened for the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy and Bill Haley’s Original Comets.”
“City Beat” is Michael’s first national release. On its release date of March 2, 2010, the single “City Beat” peaked at position #4 on the Amazon smooth jazz chart. The infectious, upbeat title track hit #1 on Canadian based Smooth Jazz Now’s singles chart. It later debuted at #45 on the smooth jazz.com airplay list. It debuted at #24 on Billboard’s smooth jazz Indicator Chart. Millions watching The Weather Channel are also getting hip to Thomas’ melodic mix of upbeat grooves and sensual ballads. A total of five songs from City Beat are receiving regular spins there, including “City Beat,” “Amante Del Vino,” “Back Home”, “30-A Degrees” and “Wedding Song (Forever Always).” These breakthrough achievements for the small town Kentucky native (Cecilia, outside of Elizabethtown) are all the more incredible when you realize that he’s a purely DIY artist with no formal label backing. Denis Poole said this about Thomas, “ Michael may yet turn out to be the smooth jazz find of 2010.”
Prior to his national breakthrough as a recording artist, Thomas had built a strong and regional following performing at local venues, private shows, festivals, and concerts. He has performed several times at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, on bills featuring some of the biggest stars in smooth jazz: Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, Richard Elliot
Richard Elliot
Richard Elliot is a Scottish-born saxophone player.He was a member of the funk band Tower of Power playing tenor sax for 5 years during the 1980s. He also worked on Stacy Lattisaw's 1986 album "Take Me All The Way". His solo career took off when he remade the Percy Sledge classic "When a Man...
, Boney James
Boney James
Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz...
, Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone....
, Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
, Peter White
Peter White
Peter White, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian.White was born into a family that had established its homestead at the junction of the Muskrat and Ottawa Rivers where the town of Pembroke, Ontario was soon established...
, Rick Braun
Rick Braun
Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player.Before embarking on a solo career, Braun got his start by playing in several bands, including guitarist Jeff Golub's Avenue Blue...
, Joyce Cooling
Joyce Cooling
Joyce Cooling, a San Francisco based jazz guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, has recorded seven albums - five of which charted on Billboard. She has to her credit two #1 singles, six Top-10 and 13 charting radio singles in all and has garnered multiple music awards including the Gibson Best Jazz...
, Steve Cole
Steve Cole
Steve Cole is an American tenor saxophonist who has released five albums starting in the late 1990s throughout the 2000s. Most of his albums have been well-received, earning him several awards...
, Euge Groove
Euge Groove
Steven Eugene Grove , better known as Euge Groove, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist with a strong Top-40 background....
, Mindi Abair
Mindi Abair
Mindi Abair is an American smooth jazz saxophonist with a strong Top-40 pop music background. Mindi has toured and/or recorded with the Backstreet Boys, Duran Duran, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Adam Sandler, Keb' Mo', Lalah Hathaway, Lee Ritenour, Teena Marie, John Tesh, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler,...
, and Nick Colionne. In 2006, the saxman was named Best of the Emerald Coast
Emerald Coast
The Emerald Coast is an area in the US state of Florida on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico which stretches about 100 miles through four counties, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay, from Gulf Breeze on the east side of Pensacola Bay to Panama City on the east side of the St...
in the “Best Musician/Vocalist/Band” category.
Equipment
Michael J Thomas plays Yamaha Custom Z Alto and Tenor Saxophones and a Yamaha 62 R Soprano Saxophone. He uses Vandoren Java Saxophone Reeds.Discography
- The Way I Feel (1999)
- Shadows of Love (2002)
- Hymns Music For the Soul (2006)
- City Beat (2010)