From Tennessee to Laycock comes bluesman Earl Thomas

So it was no surprise that Brontë Blues Club members gave him an award for his previous appearance at their own little venue.

The Tennessee-born musician returns to Laycock Village Hall tomorrow with his band, The Royal Guard, to begin the club’s spring-summer season. (April 24).

Club spokesman Maggie Marsden said: “In our tiny venue it’s sure to be a packed night with tickets for this acclaimed singer-songwriter in hot demand.”

In 1991, just before reaching the age of 30, Earl recorded ‘Blue..Not Blues’, a record strongly influenced by his parents' love of blues and gospel music and his own affinity for '60s and '70s soul.

Earl said: “I come from a family of singers, so we were always singing especially on a Sunday evening after dinner. Sometimes we’d just get a family music thing going.

“Music was always there; I noticed it but I didn’t think about making it although I knew that I was drawn to it.”

Earl’s early influences were church and country music, both which featured in his family background, and his father, grandfather and uncle were bluesmen.

He said: “I like a big eclectic mix of musicians, blues, soul, gospel, Mahlia Jackson, Clara Ward, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and I’m a huge fan of Ike and Tina Turner.

“But then I’m also a fan of Rod Stewart, The Stones, Zeppelin, Cream. I always wanted to be a rock singer, I wanted to be the black Mick Jagger.

“Rock ‘n’ roll always spoke to me and now I understand why – because it has so much blues and soul in it. It’s blues and soul done with a British accent and it’s tight.”

Earl is also an acclaimed songwriter, with the likes of Etta James, Tom Jones and Solomon Burke performing his songs.

He has played European music festivals with such artists as Elvis Costello and BB King, and earned four San Diego Music Awards and a Grammy nomination.

Tomorrow’s gig will be from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 and £18. Visit bronteblues.com or call 07773 637325 to check ticket availability.