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Program will showcase Thomas, Hoosier tunes

Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas Photo provided.

Pianist Joe Thomas, a Huntington County native, will perform the music of famous Hoosier musicians and composers on Wednesday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at Historic Forks of the Wabash.

The program, sponsored by the Huntington County Historical Society, is the third of four programs organized to celebrate Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial.

Thomas will perform approximately 20 compositions, such as:

• “Back Home Again in Indiana” — Although not written by an Indiana composer, it  has been an annual tradition since 1946 for the chorus of the song to be performed during the pre-race ceremonies at the Indianapolis 500. In most years from 1972 to 2014, it was performed by Jim Nabors.

• “(I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time” — This song was written by Albert Von Tilzer, of Indianapolis, and lyricist Neville Fleeson. Tilzer wrote the music to many hit songs, including “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” which will also be performed by Thomas.

• “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” — Although its composer, Richard Leigh, is not a Hoosier, the song was made famous by Crystal Gayle, the sister of Loretta Lynn. Gayle’s family moved from Kentucky to Wabash when she was 4 years old. Gayle earned a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1978, and the song also earned a Grammy as Country Song of the Year for Leigh.

• “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” — Composed by Paul Dresser, who grew up in Sullivan and Terre Haute and later lived in Evansville, this composition was his biggest hit and became the second best-selling song, in terms of sheet music, during the 19th century.  

• “Second Hand Rose” — Composer James Frederick “Jimmy” Hanley, who was born in Rensselaer, is also remembered for the hit songs “Indiana” and “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart.”

Hoagy Carmichael, of Bloomington; Cole Porter,  of Peru; and others will also be featured.

Thomas, of Roanoke, has played piano in many area clubs, restaurants, private parties, gospel groups and fairs. He retired in 2014 from Von Maur, where he was a pianist for more than 12 years. Currently he is the church pianist at Pleasant Chapel United Methodist Church near Roanoke and performs regularly at the Embassy Theater in Fort Wayne prior to many of its programs. He is married to Leona Bear, and they are the parents of two sons.

Thomas has recorded five CDs, which will be available for purchase at the performance.

Admission to the performance is free, but tickets are required. To obtain tickets, call 356-7264 or 356-7643, or stop by the museum during operation hours at 315 Court St., Huntington.