Making It With Terry Wollman

Robert Thomas Jr. is an American jazz percussionist and hand drummer. He is known as an innovator in Be-bop and has been nominated for two Grammy awards. He is also a visual artist. Born in Miami, 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.After graduating from high school, Thomas studied at Miami-Dade Community College. During this time, he discovered jazz, and began to play with an array of artists including Jet Nero, Ira Sullivan, Billy Marcus, Zoot Sims, Thad Jones, Monty Alexander and Mel Lewis. In the late 70s, Thomas played at a benefit with Jaco Pastorius. Soon afterward, Thomas auditioned with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter's jazz fusion group Weather Report at a live performance in New Haven, Connecticut. Thomas said afte