Just after the Father’s Day weekend, when Vaneese Thomas sang backup for Aretha Franklin at sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall, the singer had a launch for her new album, “Blues for my Father.” Her father was Rufus Thomas, a great singer who worked as a d.j. at a local radio station in Memphis, and who introduced Elvis Presley back in the day. Vaneese Thomas, the sister of Carla Thomas and Marvell Thomas, told the crowd at The Cutting Room that their dad was never inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an injustice, given that he helped found the ideals by which many others who followed him were inducted. Segueing into tunes she wrote for this album and others, songs like “When My Baby Gets Home,” “Southern Girl,” and “I Got the Blues,” she brought down the house with a first rate band, some very cool backup singers including her pal Berneta Miles, and violinist Katie Jacoby, behind her for “Blue Ridge Blues.” A good time was had by all.

Regina Weinreich

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