Chris Thomas King

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chris Thomas King
New Orleans, Louisiana
, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, actor
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano
Years active1984–present
Labels
Scotti Bros. Records
WebsiteChrisThomasKing.com

Chris Thomas King (born Durwood Christopher Thomas,

New Orleans, Louisiana
.

History

King was born in

Tommy Johnson in the Coen brothers' 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
. He is also featured in Down from the Mountain and More Music from Ray soundtracks.

In June 2021, King's book “The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music And Culture” was published by Chicago Review Press. The book posits that the Blues and related genres derive from the urban and urbane Creole culture of New Orleans. He further argues that the received narrative of blues’ genesis in the Mississippi Delta is both incorrect and that the narrative derives from erasure of New Orleans Creole accomplishments.

Artistic career

King is a pioneer of rap/blues fusion.

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

NuBlues
, to 21st Century Blues Records in 2003.

King's acting career includes prominent roles in several films, including two music-related films. In the Oscar-winning film

Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson, both of whom have been linked to selling their soul to the devil at a rural Mississippi crossroads.[7][8] King also accompanies the film's band the Soggy Bottom Boys on guitar; his rendition of Skip James
's Hard Time Killing Floor Blues was recorded live during filming and included on the film's Grammy Award-winning soundtrack.

King also starred in the

art house film The Soul of a Man, as Blind Willie Johnson and Kill Switch as Detective Storm with Steven Seagal
.

Filmography

Documentary appearances

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 Erickson (1990)[9]
  • Simple (1993) as Chris Thomas
  • 21st Century Blues... from da Hood (1994) as Chris Thomas
  • Chris Thomas King (1997)
  • Red Mud (1998)
  • Whole Lotta Blues: The Songs of Led Zeppelin (1999)
  • Me, My Guitar and the Blues (2000)
  • O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack (2000)
  • Down from the Mountain (2001)
  • The Legend of Tommy Johnson, Act 1: Genesis 1900s-1990s (2001)
  • It's a Cold Ass World: The Beginning (2001)
  • Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues (2002)
  • A Young Man's Blues (2002)
  • The Roots (2003)
  • Along the Blues Highway (2003) with Blind Mississippi Morris
  • Johnny's Blues: A Tribute to Johnny Cash (2003)[10]
  • Why My Guitar Screams & Moans (2004)
  • Ray soundtrack (2004)
  • Rise (2006)[11]
  • Live on Beale Street (2008)
  • Antebellum Postcards (2011)
  • Bona Fide (2012)
  • Hotel Voodoo (2017)
  • ANGOLA (2020)

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve (n.d.). "Chris Thomas King: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (May 16, 1990). "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ISBN 978-0313344237
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-673-1
    .
  5. ^ Silky Johnson (February 11, 2011). "Silky's Sunday Blues: Chris Thomas King Edition". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  6. ^ Joan Turner. "Biography for Chris Thomas King". IMDB. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  7. ^ Orshoski, Wes (September 22, 2001). "Chris King builds on 'O Brother'". Billboard. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Robert Johnson Gravesite – Greenwood". Mississippi Blues Trail. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  9. 13th Floor Elevators on their Easter Everywhere
    album (1967).
  10. Rock Island Line
    ".
  11. ^ As described by King's own record label, 21st Century Blues Records, "New Orleans musician Chris Thomas King lost both a home and a recording studio when Hurricane Katrina had landfall at the close of summer in 2005, and it's hardly startling that his album Rise takes Katrina and the devastating aftermath of the storm as a central theme." Description of Rise Archived February 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine; www.indiekazoo.com.

External links

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