You've never heard of him but he made his Carnegie Hall debut while still a student at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. He was interviewed on the CBS Sunday morning show with Eugenia Zukerman. He played with the Boston Opera Company and toured the country with the Houston Opera Company. He ran the children's opera program under Sarah Caldwell in Boston, and Carolina Opera in Charlotte, NC. He was the composer/musician in residence at Moab, Utah where he integrated the musical scene by teaching folks from 8 to 80 to play African drums. He played a concerto with the Baltimore Symphony. He has appeared in Mexico, South America, Germany, Switzerland and points in between. He played jazz with Dr. Billy Taylor in Colorado. And now he is coming to Miles City.

He is my son Eric and the deal is this. I always wanted to have him play at my memorial service, but I will not pay for music that I cannot hear, and so he and four of his colleagues will be here during the Bucking Horse sale for a bit of jazz and a little bit of the blues and whatever else he and the band fancy. There'll be lots oif original compositions by all the band members and vocals by 2 of their number.

I hope everyone in Miles City will take this opportunity to meet and hear Bunky's son.

Hugs,

Johnnie Lockett Thomas

PS - As is my custom, I will be taking the names of those of you who do not come out to hear the music and to meet the rest of my clan including the elusive boyfriend, former Smithsonian magazine publisher Joe Bonsignore.

Let the party begin.

JLT


[This message has been edited by Johnnie Lockett Thomas (edited 4/28/2006).]

Johnnie - this sounds wonderful! Can't wait. Where will they play while in town and what night during the BHS? Thank you for "making" him come and play for us.

I want to meet you because you are so damn interesting. You are the J Petermann of Miles City. Story for everything. The music is a bonus!

How privileged we all are to be able to hear such wonderful music! Details...details...please.

Do you have details as to where they will be performing?

Not sure about all venues. One will be at Joe's.

Another will be at the quick draw in the park after the parade and a final one will be at the Art Center's Sunday Brunch. The main one I'd thought we'd have apparently fell through.

You can count on Mark Browning for good local publicity.

JLT

Does he have a website? Sounds interesting.

According to tonight's paper the Eric Thomas Quintet will play at Joe's on Friday and Saturday nights, at the Quick Draw on Saturday after the parade and at the Art Center brunch on Sunday morning from 9:30 to 11:30. He'll be playing different music at each performance.

Eric doesn't have a web site but you can read all kinds of things about him on the Colby College web site and on the Moab Music Festival site. Just Google or yahoo Eric Thomas Moab or Eric Thomas Colby College.

I look forward to seeing all of you and although I will have to confine my movements to the confines of a chair, let's all feel the music and dance and sing and enjoy life to the fullest.

Hugs,

Johnnie

Johnnie, last evening was magical. The quintet was fabulous and the party was wonderful. I didn't get up to give a toast last night, but I want you to know that everytime I had a chance to visit with you, I came away richer from the experience. You can deftly expose our ignorance and bigotry and at the same time illumine for us our Miles City virtues. What an impact you've made in our little burg. By the way, Daryl Kistler is in Rome with a group of students. His friend, Sasha, sends best wishes from the both of them.
My love to you and your family.

The music was indescribable! Thank you for sharing your talented son and his friends with us all.

Betty,

Thank you for your generous expressions. I had the time of my life and I love the idea of the Johnnie Lockett Thomas Annual Wake. That really tickles my fance.

Thanks also for the news about Daryl Kistler. If he had been still here in MC he would have been my choice for the minister who would say a few words over me, but I'm told that Sherwood McKay easily gives the funniest funerals of any of the ministers in town. All's well that ends well.

Hugs,

Johnnie Lou Lockett Thomas