Park Foundation Music App

Home > Artists

Allan Thomas

Thomas' musical adventure began in Brooklyn NY, when at age 12, he joined an A Capella doo-wop vocal group, performing at local events. In 1966, at age 18, he signed his first solo record deal with noted producer Huey P. Meaux, who released Allan's first single on NYC based Scepter Records. Becoming a songwriter at 19, Thomas soon played the Greenwich Village coffee house circuit, and in 1971 Sire Records released his first album of original songs 'A Picture', produced by Richard Gottehrer. Allan then toured the US, opening for acts such as Weather Report, Richie Havens, Taj Mahal, and elder blues men Bukka White and Arthur Cruddup. In 1972 Thomas was invited to improvise vocals on the Cannonball Adderley Quintet song 'Behold', which appeared on the groups 'Soul of The Bible' concept album. Allan also opened for the quintet at the Troubadour and Lighthouse clubs in southern California. AT was a staff songwriter for ABC Music in the late seventies, and moved to Kauai in 1983. He released his second album 'The Island' on his own Black Bamboo Recordings label in 1989. The CD was produced and mixed by industry veteran Stephen Barncard of Grateful Dead and Crosby & Nash fame. The CD played on over 150 radio stations nationwide, and the title track was for many years featured on United Airlines in-flight music. In 1997 Allan released his third album 'Coconut Culture', produced, recorded and mixed by music business heavy Mike Shipley (Alison Krause, Maroon 5, Tom Petty) featuring a duet with Graham Nash on the song 'The Navigator'. On this album AT begins using several alternate guitar tunings that were gifts from David Crosby. In 2005 Allan was assistant engineer on Donald Fagens' (Steely Dan) third solo CD 'Morph The Cat'. Thomas also played rhythm guitar and sang backing vocals for both Fagan and Todd Rundgren in a benefit concert in March of 2005. 2007 saw the release of Mr. Thomas' fourth album 'Making Up For Lost Time', again joined by Graham Nash on the song 'Ray Of Hope'. This record features Jimmy Johnson from the James Taylor band on bass, and the drummer of the group Chicago Tris Imboden on drums. In Late 2011 Allan Thomas released his newest CD 'Deep Water', featuring David Crosby and Graham Nash singing backing vocals on 'The Longest Ride'. The record also features members of the Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Van Morrison, James Taylor, CSN, and the Yellowjackets bands. 'Deep Water' was mixed by 2012 Grammy Award winner Mike Shipley. Late July of 2018 brings us the brand new 6th Allan Thomas album 'Two Sides To Every Story'. Six years in the making it features members of Steely Dan, the James Taylor Band, CSN and the Yellowjackets. Mixed by industry legend Paul Northfield (Rush, Suicdal Tendancies ). This record features 8 vocals and 7 instrumentals and is said to be Thomas' best work yet. Married to Carole Thomas (born Cook)