Artist Info: Harry Thomas

Harry Thomas (Reginald Thomas Broughton, Bristol, UK, 24 Mar 1890 - Montreal, QC, Canada, 11 Jul 1941) was a self-taught musician, pianist and composer, with a talent for improvisation.

Thomas moved to Montreal in 1909 and played for silent films at local theatres, including the Regent, until ca 1920. He was a protégé of Willie Eckstein for whom he served as relief pianist at the Strand and with whom he composed Perpetual Rag and Delirious Rag ; in 1916 Thomas recorded both rags as piano rolls and the latter again on a Victor 78. [read more...]