Phillip P. Thomas, drummer/percussionist, 76, died Friday, August 23, in Little Company of Mary Hospital, in Evergreen Park after heart failure. He is survived by his wife Jean, stepdaughter Sharron Mason, granddaughter Keturah, and brother Richard (NYC). 

Born in Chicago, Phil Thomas entered showbiz singing and tap dancing at the age of eight. After studying piano for three years he switched to drums while in service in 1943. In 1946 he entered the Midwest Conservatory where he studied for four years under Don Knapp and Jose Bethancourt. During this time he began performing and recording with Chicago blues bands. In 1950 he joined the Preston Love Orchestra of Omaha and toured with them for five years. Returning to Chicago in 1955 he worked with the Red Saunders band at the Club De Lisa and toured the midwest and east coast. Thomas also toured with the Charles Brown band. 

In 1959 Phil began playing around Chicago again with blues, bebop and swing bands. In 1960-61, he played and recorded regularly with the John Young trio, and became a regular studio artist at Chess Records, Cobra Records, Colombia Records and Vee-Jay Records. 

Phil joined Yoko Noge's Jazz Me Blues band in 1997, performing weekly at HotHouse and recording with Yoko until his recent illness. He also toured Japan with Yoko in 1998. He performed and recorded with many legends, including Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Nancy Wilson, Etta James, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Stitt, John M. Young, Al Grey, Billy Michell, Sonny Turner, Frank Foster, The Womack Brothers, Lorez Alexander, Horace Smith, Walter Cartwright, The Impressions, Von Freeman, George Freeman, Jimmy Ellis, Katherine Davis, Carl Wooley, Van Kelly, Steve Behr, Earma Thompson, and Yoko Noge. 

HotHouse deeply mourns the loss of this Chicago legend. 

XXX 

For Immediate Release August 27, 2002 
HotHouse, The Center for International Performance and Exhibition 
31 East Balbo, Chicago, IL 60605 

Media Contact: Oscar Groves 
Tel. 312-362-9707 Fax 312-362-9708 
E-mail: hothouseoffice@msn.com Website address: www.hothouse.net