Chris Thomas King

For other people named Chris King, see Chris King (disambiguation).

For other people named Thomas King, see Thomas King (disambiguation).

Chris Thomas King
Born	October 14, 1962 (1962-10-14) (age 49) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Origin	New Orleans, United States
Genres	Blues, R&B, Hip hop
Occupations	Musician, singer, actor
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Black Top Records, 21st Century Blues Records, Scotti Bros. Records
Website	ChrisThomasKing.com

Chris Thomas King (born October 14, 1962) is an American New Orleans, Louisiana-based blues musician and actor.

History

King was born in Baton Rouge, 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 soundtracks.

Musical career

King is known as the pioneer of rap/blues. He conceived the first sample 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 recordings 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.

Filmography

• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), as Tommy Johnson
• The Soul of a Man (2003), as Blind Willie Johnson
• Ray (2004), as Lowell Fulson
• Kill Switch (2008) as detective Storm Anderson
• Imagination Movers (2010)
• Treme (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 Mountain (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 Erickson (1990)^[1]
• 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 Cash (2003)^[2]
• Why My Guitar Screams & Moans (2004)
• Ray (soundtrack) (2004)
• Rise (2006)^[3]
• Live on Beale Steet (2008)
• Antebellum Postcards (2011)

References

1. ^ Chris Thomas and Tabby Thomas, singing "Postures (Leave Your Body Behind)", originally recorded by the 13th Floor Elevators on their Easter Everywhere album (1967).
2. ^ King contributes his version of "Rock Island Line".
3. ^ 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; www.indiekazoo.com.

External links

• Chris Thomas King's website
• Chris Thomas King at the Internet Movie Database
• 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 Johnathon before a live audience on July 17, 2006; video is 87 minutes.
• Artist Connection Podcast interview with Chris Thomas King

Persondata
Name	King, Chris Thomas
Alternative names
Short description	American blues musician and actor
Date of birth	October 14, 1962
Place of birth	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Date of death
Place of death