138:, the eldest of seven children, and grew up in North Miami Beach. He was encouraged by his fifth-grade teacher to play music, and not having an instrument, Thomas learned to play percussion on his desk. He sang in the choir at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and at age sixteen, began playing percussion with the Broomfield Family, a local group that performed in churches and nightclubs. He joined the ensemble as a roadie, but after playing percussion with the group at a private party, went on to play in the band. Although still under-age, he played with the group at such venues as the Castaway Hotel's Wreck Bar.
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and hand drumming, and has been nominated for two Grammy awards. He is also a visual artist, working as a painter.
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is an
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on a local label. He continued to work with
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Thomas is married to Jane Thomas and has a son, Spencer.
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in Miami
Springs. Soon afterward, Thomas auditioned with
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Robert Thomas Jr. with
Weather Report, Amsterdam, 1980
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After graduating from high school, Thomas studied at
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at the Gold Dust lounge and other artists including
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279:"Yoga Journal". 1994: 33.
189:at a live performance in
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191:New Haven, Connecticut
41:Background information
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171:Mel Lewis
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349:AllMusic
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