Music Career
A versatile vocalist, and an undiscovered treasure, Richard Thomas’ career began in Philadelphia in 1960 when he had the opportunity, at fourteen, to open for B.B. King.

Richard’s current CD, Touch You With A Song, produced and arranged by pianist John di Martino, is a complement to his collection, which includes The Pleasure Of Your Company and Holiday Classics, both arranged by pianist Lynne Arriale. His latest recording Live At SoundWaters was performed on location at SoundWaters www.soundwaters.org

Richard’s voice is especially suited to well-known classic standards. Richard draws his inspiration from the likes of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Hartman. In fact, you can hear a bit of each when Richard sings.

Richard currently performs at Soundwaters Community Center in Stamford, CT, which is home based. Additionally, he performs at the well-known Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, CT; the Foxwoods Casino, Sage American Grill, and Oyster Bar in New Haven, CT; the Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, NY; the Levitt Pavilion in Westport, CT; Szechuan Tokyo in West Hartford, CT; the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival in Norwalk, CT; the Rich Forum & Palace theaters in Stamford, CT; the Greenwich Polo Club; and Danny’s Skylight Room, the Carlyle, and Waldorf Astoria hotels in NYC. The 21Club, Nyc. He has also performed for the Christopher Reeves Foundation and Pitney Bowes, Inc. Richard has shared the stage with pianists Alan Simon, Danny Mixon, Rob Silvan, David Epstein, Chris Casey, Jay Rowe, Chris Coogan, Joe McWilliams, and Sarah Jane Cion, winner of the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano competition. Richard also performs with guitarists Chris Morrison, Carmine Marino and John Cain. Drummers include Bobby Leonard, Don Mulvaney, and Arti Dixon, who toured with Ahmid Jamal. In addition, Richard has performed with saxophonists Marion Meadows, Houston Pearson, Lonnie Youngblood, and Ken Gioffre of AWB. He has also performed with bassists Bill Conway, Dave Daddario, and famed Phil Bowler, who accompanied Horace Silver. Moreover, he had the opportunity to perform with the world famous Joyce DiCamillo Trio. Richard’s performances also include the Oaks Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls, the Registry Resort Hotel in Naples, Florida, and the Liberty Theatre in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Print Media, Voice-Over, Narration, and Film
2/98 - 5/02: Pitney Bowes (voice-over, narration, and video)
11/98: Connecticut Dept of Tourism (video)
12/98: Buckley & Wynne Law Firm (video & voice-over)
2/99: First Federal Bank of Hartford (video)
8/04: Universal Pictures Along Came Polly (vocal)
7/05: University of Hartford (print)
9/05: Mid State Medical Annual Report (print)
8/06: Connecticut Minority Suppliers Development Council (voice-over)
10/05: Consumer Reports (print)
10/05: Fuji Film (video)
5/06: St. Vincent’s Hospital (video & voice-over)
6/21/06: Merck: The Unmet Need (voice-over)
5/07: Cigna (video)
11/07: Pearson Education (audio books)
5/08: PricewaterhouseCoopers (voice-over & print)
9/08: Connecticut Science Center
5/10: Fresenius Medical Care (video & voice-over)
7/10: General Electric (Video & voice-over)
9/10: Greater New England Minority Development Council Expo (voice-over)

Richard has studied voice with screenplay writer Jay Fredricks of Westport, CT, vocal coach Jackie Presti of NYC, and Voices International of NYC. Richard also provides vocal coaching to several seasoned and non-seasoned singers. Richard maintains a close relationship with the well-known Carriage House Studio of Stamford, CT, Presence Studio of Westport, CT, and Edge Studio of Fairfield, CT—one of the area’s leading recourses for voice-over education. He is affiliated with James Daniel Music, Stamford CT, John Ragusa Music of NYC and the Johnston Agency of Norwalk, CT.

Smooth, Sexy, & Salient is the introspective I offer my readers in this epistle about Connecticut's saloon singer, Richard 'Cookie' Thomas. Let me say right away too, that Richard's association with the soft & rich jazz talents of the John di Martino Quartet certainly adds to the mystique of the project. Their combined body of work within the project is nonetheless an interesting form of collective musical effort. Both the quartet & Richard ply their skills trustfully for the instruction of one another. The result is this ''rhythmic sense'' they both create for the enjoyment and edification of their listeners. This disc will stimulate one's innate musical sensibilities. Buy it!!
George W. Carroll/The Musicians' Ombudsman

"His voice is smooth, but smooth in the style of Nat King Cole. His liquid delivery has body like rich chocolate."
David Dupont, Cadence Magazine

"A true blue ribbon balladeer"
Dave Nathan, Jazz News

"Smoother than a triple latte hold the cinnamon"
The Stamford Advocate & Greenwich Time

"A smooth crooner out of the school of Arthur Prysock"
Larry Hollis, Cadence Magazine

"The listener is in for a pleasant suprise"
New York Sheet Music society

"It's not just anyone who will invest the time and creative energy to create such a dynamic result"
Anthony Robbins

okie" Thomas is one of the best voices to come along since Johnnie Hartman...Thank God for new talent."
Sherry Winston, Grammy nominated Jazz Flutist

"Versatile singer, Cookie Thomas, shines in all the jazz standards, but this crooner's home turf is the romantic ballad. Light the fire, pop the cork and cozy up with your sweetheart and these smoooooooth and mellow tunes."
Lucy Hedrick, author/jazz enthusiast

Listen to Samples of Voice-Overs
Commercials
Narrations

Richard also lends his vocal talents to special events such as wedding video narrations and a host of other events. Richard is based in Stamford, Connecticut and maintains a professional relationship with a number of local well known recording studios.
Contact booking for more information.