Leon Thomas

Amos Leon Thomas Jr (born 1937, died May 8 1999) was an American avant garde jazz vocalist from East St. Louis, IL. He changed his name to Leone in 1974. Thomas is best known for his work with Pharoah Sand

Amos Leon Thomas Jr (born 1937, died May 8 1999) was an American avant garde jazz vocalist from East St. Louis, IL. He changed his name to Leone in 1974. Thomas is best known for his work with Pharoah Sanders particularly 1969's The Creator Has a Master Plan from Sanders' Karma album. Thomas's most distinctive device was that he often broke out into yodeling in the middle of a vocal. This style has influenced singer James Moody among others.

Thomas studied music at Tennessee State University. He also worked with Grant Green, Jimmy Forrest, and Hank Crawford, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Randy Weston, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Louis Armstrong, Carlos Santana, Freddie Hubbard and Oliver Nelson.