“I miss a lot about the older days. I spent quite a few nights playing gigs with Anthony "Packrat" Thompson, who even as a young man, had an old school, respectful approach to performing live blues. I tried to learn from him and other mentors like Noble Watts and Lazy Lester. It is inevitable that times will change and it is natural to reminisce about the good 'ol days, but there is an amazing amount of great new blues talent out there right now. The Blues will always go on!”

Robert ‘Top’ Thomas: Sunrise Blues

Robert "Top" Thomas, longtime veteran of projects with many of the top blues artists, has released a new album of acoustic country blues entitled, "One Morning Soon" is being released on Oct 31st! This follow-up to Robert's acclaimed second solo album, "A Thin Dime", continues his journey through the past with covers of the masters before him plus some new originals. The thirteen songs find Thomas and band in peak form. A singer/guitarist based in New Smyrna Bch, Fl, he was born in 1959 in Daytona Bch, Fl and began performing professionally at age 14 for school dances, private parties, city functions and the like. He eventually became associated with King Snake Records of Sanford, Fl in 1987. The owner/executive producer, Bob Greenlee, took him under his wing and was a great help in boosting his career. Robert has cut records and performed A singer/guitarist based in New Smyrna Bch, Fl, he was born in 1959 in Daytona Bch, Fl and began performing professionally at age 14 for school dances, private parties, city functions and the like. He eventually became associated with King Snake Records of Sanford, Fl in 1987. The owner/executive producer, Bob Greenlee, took him under his wing and was a great help in boosting his career. 

(Photo: Robert “Top” Thomas)

Robert has cut records and performed with Bob Greenlee, Noble Watts, Jim Payne, Victor Wainwright and The WildRoots among many others. He is most well known as founding and co-leader of the legendary band Smokehouse who released five well received albums and toured US and Europe during its long run. He has since continued with different projects that have included his first solo album, "The Town Crier"(2012) and his second, "A Thin Dime" (2023) both of which received strong reviews. This third solo release continues with Billy Dean at the helm, now with The Hidden Chamber.

Interview by Michael Limnios        Archive: Robert “Top” Thomas, 2013 Interview

Special Thanks: Frank Roszak Promotions

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

To me, music represents a time to reflect and be thankful for what we have. It's when we can experience something that takes us away from the daily struggles and have a little fun or escape. The moment that changed my music life the most was, as a ten year old, a neighbor kid named Paul Vaughn invited  me to start taking guitar lessons with him at the local music store. It seemed really cool and I never stopped from there.  

Why do you think that Florida’s Blues scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

Because of the massive talent that lives here. The Allman Brothers were the rage from my hometown of Daytona Beach growing up. It don't get any more influential than that. Then you go back to Ray Charles, Tampa Red, Blind Blake, Noble Watts, Cannonball Adderley, Lucky Peterson and you had some real blues cats prowlin' around. Nowadays you've got Ben Prestage, Damon Fowler, J P Soars, Victor Wainwright (he was based years ago in Daytona), Mark Hodgson, The WildRoots and a lot of other great blues acts.   

“Today I perform mostly acoustic country blues with a lot being covers of the old masters like Mance Lipscomb and Rev Gary Davis.  I think I gravitated toward this type of blues partly because it is like music I heard as a kid from the radio and from older men jammin' around in the music stores.” (Photo: Robert “Top” Thomas, longtime veteran of projects with many of the top blues artists)

How did your relationship with the Blues come about? What keeps a musician passionate after four decades in music?

I started out playing popular songs of the day like The Beatles, CCR and James Taylor. In fact, come to think of it, my first blues song I learned was Steamroller by JT. I ended up meeting him decades later at King Snake Studios when I was in his brother Alex's band for a few shows. I was really starstruck hanging at the studio and Bob Greenlee offered to record me if I could come up with some blues tunes. I gave it a shot, it went pretty good, so I kept trying to really learn the blues from that point. I'm still tryin'! Blues is definitely now my favorite style of music, but I love it all! I focused on performing live blues with a band, which offers challenges and inspirations that keep driving you forward. I then branched out with solo, duo and trio acoustic gigs which I also enjoy immensely.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “One Morning Soon”?

It was a kind of a "seat of your pants" approach. We had a really good time recording the album in The Hidden Chamber. It went over about a five day period. Near the end of one of the sessions we fired up a little weed and after a while, the smoke got so thick it looked like we were making a Cheech and Chong album!  We got a pretty good laugh out of that. Producer Billy Dean runs a tight ship but he has a little fun with the rank and file at times. Another day,Billy's daughter, Sadie, got on one of the songs when the gator bit her hand during  Gator Jig, it was a lot of fun!

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss a lot about the older days. I spent quite a few nights playing gigs with Anthony "Packrat" Thompson, who even as a young man, had an old school, respectful approach to performing live blues. I tried to learn from him and other mentors like Noble Watts and Lazy Lester. It is inevitable that times will change and it is natural to reminisce about the good 'ol days, but there is an amazing amount of great new blues talent out there right now. The Blues will always go on!

“Blues is definitely now my favorite style of music, but I love it all! I focused on performing live blues with a band, which offers challenges and inspirations that keep driving you forward. I then branched out with solo, duo and trio acoustic gigs which I also enjoy immensely.” (Photo: Robert “Top” Thomas with Lazy Lester, c.late 1980s / Robert “Top” Thomas with Smokehouse, Florida 1991 / Photo by Warren King)

What has made you laugh and what touched you worked with the late great Bob Greenlee? Are there any memories which you’d like to share with us?

Bob was a laugh a minute. First thing you knew about Bob was that this was gonna be a good time. There are a lot of stories. One that comes to mind was when Bob agreed to have me come into the studio on a Saturday night in '87 to record my new song that we wrote together, "The Town Crier". I went to the session with my drummer (Shawn Beamer, who later toured and recorded with Molly Hatchet for over 20 years) and Shawn's mom for company. We got there about 8PM and Les Dudek was doing a session upstairs. Bob, also the session bass player that night, said let's have a drink and talk while Les finishes up, time got away from us and before you know it was about midnight. Upstairs they had been working on a song section for many takes and Bob got a little impatient and asked that they stop. Within one minute I saw Les Dudek walking down the stairs carrying his guitar in one hand and his amp in the other with the cord unwrapped and following him down like a dog tail. We all looked at each other and busted out laughing. We then went upstairs and cut our song in two takes.  

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?  

The importance of working together and putting yourself in other people's shoes.  Even if you are a solo act, there are plenty of people you still need to work with, like the venue and the fans. Keeping an open mind when it comes to collaborations. Also, knowing that practice can sometimes overcome things that seemed unreachable.

How did the blues shape Southern Rock? How has your experience with the “golden era” of blues influenced the way you compose and perform today?  

If you believe that ABB was the first southern rock band, a distinction that the band members themselves rejected, then blues had everything to do with it. Duane and Gregg lived and breathed the blues as young men even though they started out more as R and B, and even did some Beatles covers in some of their early bands. Later, Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Grinderswitch (another great Florida Band) and others added in some country flavor. Today I perform mostly acoustic country blues with a lot being covers of the old masters like Mance Lipscomb and Rev Gary Davis.  I think I gravitated toward this type of blues partly because it is like music I heard as a kid from the radio and from older men jammin' around in the music stores.

(Photo: Robert “Top” Thomas)