Ocean Beat June 2020

OCEAN BEAT JUNE 2020

The Official Publication of the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter

ON THE COVER 2020 Graduate Shane Emilien and his daughter

Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter Officers 2019-2020 Donald Greer President Joselyn Coats V. P. of Membership Garnet Foster V. P. of Finance Donald Black Treasurer Darren Champs Recording Secretary Justin Dorsey Corresponding Secretary Julia Richardson Parliamentarian Justice Smith Financial Secretary Reginald Thompson Chaplain Linda Boyd Auxiliary Committee If you want to submit information to the TSUOOSAC Newsletter, please email information to: Oceanalumni@gmail.com or mail to: Texas Southern University National Alumni Association Ocean of Soul Chapter P.O. Box 88155 Houston , Texas 77288

OCEAN EVENTS

Ocean of Soul Spring 2020 Graduates (Left to Right) Christian Gatson, Jared Ross, Jordan Jackson Joshua Broussard

Ocean of Soul Spring 2020 Graduates (left to right) Olivia Douglas, Brittany Hawkins, Corey Williams, Tiarra Chatman, Shane Emilien

William “Bubbha ” Thomas Legendary Houston Musician and Educator

Houston’s reputation for developing first-class jazz drummers is well established. Bubbha Thomas was a key player in that tradition, among the musicians and mentors who stood tallest despite sitting behind a drum kit. Thomas’ distinguished career included time playing on storied Duke-Peacock recordings in the 1960s, and he led an incredible spiritual jazz ensemble, the Lightmen, in the 1970s.

Thomas died Saturday in Houston, according to a statement by his son. Earlier in the week, Thomas told the Chronicle, he'd been in declining health for some time.

Despite a storied career as a drummer and bandleader, perhaps Thomas’ most enduring work that of founder of Houston’s Summer Jazz Workshop, a remarkable program that nurtured young talent for generations.

“The older I get the more I realize how fortunate I was to be a part of the Summer Jazz Workshop,” says jazz drummer Reggie Quinerly. “When you get older, you realize the importance of time. And to share something like that with young people, it’s priceless. I can’t begin to count the number of young people who benefitted from the exposure to music and the arts because of Bubbha Thomas.”

Adds drummer Jeremy Dutton, who last month appeared in Houston with Vijay Iyer, “You really can’t overstate what he meant to the Houston music community.”

FROM SOUL TO "SPIRITUAL JAZZ" Before becoming an artist and educator, Thomas was a Fourth Ward kid who grew up in a music-filled household. He attended Booker T. Washington High School, dividing his time between music and basketball. The former found Thomas studying with Houston jazz legend Conrad Johnson.

Thomas continued his study at Wiley College, but returned to Houston in the 1960s, where he found work drumming on sessions for Don Robey’s Duke and Peacock labels starting in 1963. Thomas drummed on recordings by artists including O.V. Wright, Buddy Ace and the Mighty Clouds of Joy.

Special thanks to Kirk Jackson and A & R Brake Service for his generous contribution and their continued support of the Ocean of Soul Marching Band

Special thanks to Ocean Alumnus Cory James and Colistics Pharmacy for his generous contribution and their continued support of the Ocean of Soul Marching Band