Chris Thomas King
Encyclopedia
Chris Thomas King is an American
New Orleans, Louisiana
-based blues
musician
and actor
.
, Louisiana
, United States
. He is the son of blues musician Tabby Thomas
. He has won awards including "Album of the Year" for both Grammy Award
and Country Music Awards. King has sold more than 10 million records
in the United States
. He is featured playing the part of Tommy Johnson in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, Ethan Coen & Joel Coen) He is also featured in Down From the Mountain and More Music From Ray soundtrack
s.
based blues concept album
in the early 1990s by writing and producing
the first all-rap/blues album for RCA Records
titled 21st Century Blues… From Da Hood.
As an entrepreneur King took control of his master recording
s in the early 1990s, forming 21st Century Blues Records. He also established a publishing company, Young Blues Rebel, LLC. 21st Century Records signed the New Orleans Ninth Ward rap/blues duo
the 21C-B-Boyz and the London
, England
based NuBlues
, to 21st Century Blues Records in 2003.
As an actor, King has co-starred several films including two musical films, Ray
and O Brother Where Art Thou?. He also starred in the Wim Wenders
art house film The Soul of a Man, as Blind Willie Johnson
and Kill Switch
as Detective Storm with Steven Seagal
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
-based blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
History
King was born in Baton RougeBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is the son of blues musician Tabby Thomas
Tabby Thomas
Tabby Thomas also known as Rockin' Tabby Thomas is an American Chicago blues musician...
. He has won awards including "Album of the Year" for both Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and Country Music Awards. King has sold more than 10 million records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He is featured playing the part of Tommy Johnson in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, Ethan Coen & Joel Coen) He is also featured in Down From the Mountain and More Music From Ray soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s.
Musical career
King is known as the pioneer of rap/blues. He conceived the first sampleSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
based blues concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
in the early 1990s by writing and producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
the first all-rap/blues album for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
titled 21st Century Blues… From Da Hood.
As an entrepreneur King took control of his master recording
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
s in the early 1990s, forming 21st Century Blues Records. He also established a publishing company, Young Blues Rebel, LLC. 21st Century Records signed the New Orleans Ninth Ward rap/blues duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
the 21C-B-Boyz and the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
based NuBlues
NuBlues
NuBlues is a blues/hip hop band formed in London 2002 by producer/musician Ramon Goose.-Biography:NuBlues were the brainchild of Ramon Goose who recruited rapper Jay Nicholls, bassist Ed Van Der Mark and drummer Paul Francis. They toured extensively throughout Europe and made several national TV...
, to 21st Century Blues Records in 2003.
As an actor, King has co-starred several films including two musical films, Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
and O Brother Where Art Thou?. He also starred in the Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders
Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders is a German film director, playwright, author, photographer and producer.-Early life:Wenders was born in Düsseldorf. He graduated from high school in Oberhausen in the Ruhr area. He then studied medicine and philosophy in Freiburg and Düsseldorf...
art house film The Soul of a Man, as Blind Willie Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson
"Blind" Willie Johnson was an American singer and guitarist, whose music straddled the border between blues and spirituals....
and Kill Switch
Kill Switch (film)
Kill Switch is a direct-to-video 2008 film that was later released for theatrical distribution starring Steven Seagal and directed by Jeff King. Steven Seagal plays Detective Jacob King, a tough cop with a reputation for violent street-justice methods. King investigates murders in Memphis,...
as Detective Storm with Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
.
Filmography
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely...
(2000), as Tommy Johnson - The Soul of a Man (2003), as Blind Willie JohnsonBlind Willie Johnson"Blind" Willie Johnson was an American singer and guitarist, whose music straddled the border between blues and spirituals....
- RayRay (film)Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
(2004), as Lowell FulsonLowell FulsonLowell Fulson was a big-voiced blues guitarist and songwriter, in the West Coast blues tradition. Fulson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also recorded for business reasons as Lowell Fullsom and Lowell Fulsom... - Kill SwitchKill Switch (film)Kill Switch is a direct-to-video 2008 film that was later released for theatrical distribution starring Steven Seagal and directed by Jeff King. Steven Seagal plays Detective Jacob King, a tough cop with a reputation for violent street-justice methods. King investigates murders in Memphis,...
(2008) as detective Storm Anderson - Imagination MoversImagination MoversImagination Movers is a child-centered rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003. The lineup includes Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche, and Scott "Smitty" Smith. Members of the group were longtime friends and neighbors....
(2010) - TremeTremeTremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
(2011) HBO series.
Documentary appearances
- Last Of The Mississippi Jukes (2003) New York Times Review
- Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
- The Soul of a Man (2003)
- 22nd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards (2001)
- Down from the MountainDown from the MountainThe soundtrack album, Down from the Mountain: Live Concert Performances by the Artists & Musicians of O Brother, Where Art Thou? was released to complement the documentary concert film...
(2000) - Inside Look: Down from the Mountain (2000)
Discography
- Blue Beat (1984) as Chris Thomas
- The Beginning (1986) as Chris Thomas
- Cry of the Prophets (1990) as Chris Thomas
- Help Us, Somebody (Single) (1993) as Chris Thomas (also on Just Say Da compilation)
- Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky EricksonWhere the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky EricksonWhere The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson is a 1990 tribute album to singer-songwriter Roky Erickson, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators and solo artist, whose career has been subject to significant periods of challenge from schizophrenia. The album was released by Sire Records...
(1990) - Simple (1993) as Chris Thomas
- 21st Century Blues... From Da Hood (1994) as Chris Thomas
- Chris Thomas King (1997)
- Red Mud (1998)
- Me, My Guitar and The Blues (2000)
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
- Down From The Mountain (2001)
- The Legend of Tommy Johnson, Act 1: Genesis 1900's-1990's (2001)
- It's a Cold Ass World: The Beginning (2001)
- Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues (2002)
- Young Man Blues (2002)
- The Roots (2003)
- Along the Blues Highway (2003) with Blind Mississippi Morris
- Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny CashJohnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny CashJohnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash is a 2003 compilation album, released by Northern Blues Music, of blues-oriented songs made popular by Johnny Cash, sung by various Canadian and American performers.- Track listing :...
(2003) - Why My Guitar Screams & Moans (2004)
- Ray (soundtrack) (2004)
- Rise (2006)
- Live on Beale Steet (2008)
- Antebellum Postcards (2011)
External links
- Chris Thomas King's website
- Information and video Chris Thomas King speaks in an interview on the business pitfalls of music and how to avoid them.
- Listen or watch Woodsongs archived show 404 Chris Thomas King on his tragic experience with hurricane Katrina by performance and in interviews with Michael JohnathonMichael JohnathonMichael Johnathon is an American folksinger, singer-songwriter, author, and playwright. He has written several books, released nine albums, and tours nationwide...
before a live audience on July 17, 2006; video is 87 minutes. - Artist Connection Podcast interview with Chris Thomas King