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Sometimes it just takes a while
That’s how Thomas Oliver describes his reincarnation as a singer songwriter after a long career in journalism.
While working at Atlanta’s largest newspaper, Thomas wrote songs and performed them on the weekends. Eventually, he produced two CDs of stone-cold country – honky-tonk blues and love-sick ballads. The Georgia Music Industry Association honored five of his songs from those two CDs at its Best of Country showcases.
“Finally Over Losing My Mind,” “The Life You Save Might be Your Own” plus several singles are available on iTunes and most other Internet music sites.
But all that was just a long prelude to a new life and a new sound.
Fate and faith
The long-declining newspaper industry was dealt a near fatal blow when the Great Recession of 2008 wiped out all but the strong, and even the major metro dailies were wounded. As a result, they offered buyouts.
Thomas took one as a leap of faith and talked his long-time girlfriend, who also worked at the newspaper, into taking a buyout as well. They got married and moved to a tiny island off the coast of Georgia.
On Tybee Island, Thomas became a full-time performing singer/songwriter. He brought his well-deserved reputation for a great show from Atlanta, where folks like Sean McPherson of the Smith’s Olde Bar say, “Thomas is one of my favorites to book because I know he will put on a great show that always leaves them wanting more.”
Savannah Songwriters Series
Since moving from Atlanta, Thomas has played many of the music venues on Tybee Island, from Bernie’s Oyster House and Doc’s Bar, to Huc-a-Poos and North Beach Grill, as well as Wild Wing’s in Savannah, Uncle Bubba’s on Wilmington Island and Driftaway Café in Sandfly. His shows are a blend of Americana, classic country and his originals.
Although Thomas was told that most venues, since they cater to the tourist crowd, preferred covers to originals, he felt moved to play more and more of his own songs, and the crowd’s response encouraged him even further.
His long-time fans couldn’t help but notice that Thomas’ songs were taking on more of a folk and blues mixture. Still underscored with real country melodies and stories, but now layered with what folks call Americana: a little bit of country mixed with folk and blues. He now plays solo but more often than not he is fronting his Lazaretto Creek Band comprised of some of the Low Country’s best-known musicians.
He soon became involved with the newly formed Savannah Songwriters Series, which showcases original music once a month in a writers-in-the-round format. As SSS evolved and grew, Thomas became more involved and eventually took over booking and producing the showcases.
And in between he recorded his most personal CD to date: “The Edge of America.” Available on all streaming services. (See Reviews)
God, Coke and UGA
Born in Atlanta, Thomas is a graduate of UGA. A career in journalism included senior writing and management positions at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the publication of the international best seller: “The Real Coke, the Real Story” (1986 Random House/ 1987 Penguin). Available as a e-book for Kindles, Nooks and Pads at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iTunes. It was optioned for a movie in 2015.
Random House 1986
The son of a Sunday School teacher, Thomas once considered the ministry. Still his religious upbringing reveals itself in many songs, and especially in what he calls his spiritual blues, where he confronts the mystery of the misery suffered by both the just and the unjust.
Thomas is married to Melissa Turner. Between them, they have four grown children.
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Hello Thomas.
Terry Fore here. Curiosity led me to dig a bit.
Hope you’re doing well in these strange times.
Been younger but never better. Thank you. Hope you are doing well. Thanks for digging.
I was a huge part of the Coca-Cola protest back in 1985. Do you cover the protests in your book? Money is a little tight so I have to be discerning with my choices.
Yes, I cover the protests.
thanks
Thomas
Thank you so much! I’m watching the new documentary on History Channel. I absolutely cringed when Gaye flunked his taste test. I passed mine with the San Francisco Chronicle.
That was my rally in San Francisco with lady liberty. The one thing I find interesting is Pepsi ripped off the idea for the taste challenge from All In The Family which is where I also ripped off the idea to do my taste test in Palo Alto California that made it on to the CBS evening news with Dan Rather. When I found out what was happening, I stockpiled Coke. I used my own stash for the taste test. I was given grief by passing Stanford students who asked me didn’t I have anything better to protest. I told them they can go hold their own rally for whatever the hell they want. This was important to me. When I heard about what Mullens was doing in Seattle I called every new station in Seattle until I could find this guy and I became the person running the California chapter of the Old Cola Drinkers of America. Our T-shirt was claim T-shirt of the year by Parade magazine.
A couple interesting behind the scenes things that were going on at that time was we were slated to be on the cover of Time and Newsweek but we were bumped by a high jacking and then we were bumped by a cancerous spot on president Reagan’s nose.
One of my favorite personal moments was when I called Coca-Cola asking to speak to Mr. Goizueta
I gave my name and started you tell them who I was and I got a very terse response “Oh we know who YOU are Ms. Wilson.”
That and winning a local San Francisco Bay area best little news story of 1985 award. Those were some interesting times.
Bless you heart and your love of Coke. A story you will treasure forever.
I believe we both know Allen Judd! I enjoy your music and have a similar background… although I started in Thunderbolt and moved to Atlanta in 1973. I look forward to more music and more updates. I am involved professionally in music and art (and also a board member of GMIA!) Visit my website for a look-see.
Thanks,
~Rocky Ball
Thanks for checking in with me and introducing yourself. I’m well aware of some of what you do — what red-blooded Atlantan hasn’t heard of Ruby Red’s Band? — and interested in the other. If you are ever back down in the hometown, please contact me. BTW: check out http://savannahsongwriters.com
I’m one of the producers of this twice-monthly songwriters-in-the-round. If you are interested, just follow the links….
Hey, and watch out for that Judd fellow. He ain’t right!