Wilbert Longmire Thomas (1941 - 3 January 2018) was an American rhythm & bl… Read Full Bio ↴Wilbert Longmire Thomas (1941 - 3 January 2018) was an American rhythm & blues and jazz guitarist.
Longmire was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and learned the violin as a child before gravitating to the guitar. The first band he played in was a doo-wop group called The Students. When he was 23, he joined Hammond hero, Hank Marr’s combo in the early ’60s and later joined the band of another organist, Philly-based Trudy Pitts, playing on two of the latter’s LPs for Prestige.
Wilbert Longmire played in the early 1960s in the music scene of Cincinnati. His first recordings were made in 1963 with the Hank Marr Quartet ("The Greasy Spoon", Federal). He worked as a session musician for King Records with Red Prysock and Jack McDuff a.o.. In 1967 he recorded in New York with Trudy Pitts / Bill Carney .
Around 1968 he recorded in Los Angeles his debut album Revolution. The studio band directed by Joe Sample included Gary Barone, George Bohanon, Anthony Ortega, Wilton Fields, Leon Spencer, Larry Gales and Paul Humphrey. In the following years he worked in Gerald Wilson's Big Band and with Rusty Bryant. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Longmire first came to the attention of many R&B and jazz fans in the late 1970s when he recorded for Bob James’ short-lived Tappan Zee label. Enthusiastically recommended to James by another guitarist, George Benson, Longmire recorded three LPs for Tappan Zee between 1978 and 1980. ‘’Sunny Side Up’’ was his debut, followed by ‘’Champagne,’’ and ‘’With All My Love,’’ the latter two charting in the US R&B chart.
In the late ’60s, he did sessions with French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and west coast arranger, Gerald Wilson. Longmire released his first album in 1969. It was called “Revolution’’ and was helmed by noted pianist and Jazz Crusaders’ member, Joe Sample. He didn’t record his next album – “This Side Of Heaven” – until 1976, by which time he was on the indie label, J&M.
After his stint with Tappan Zee, Mr. Longmire fell off the radar for many years. In recent years, his albums for Tappan Zee have been reissued in the UK and Japan. His work can be heard on a forthcoming Cherry Red compilation, ‘The Very Best Of Tappan Zee,” released on February 9, which features Mr. Longmire’s ‘’Black Is The Color,’’ ‘’Good Morning,’’ ‘’Love’s Holiday,’’ and ‘Take Your Time.’’
Wilbert Longmire, one of the finer gems mined from Cincinnati's rich vein of great jazz guitarists, began his musical life in the west end of Cincinnati in what he calls a "street corner symphony" - a group of young people who gathered together to sing. His first foray into the world of instrumental music was as a violinist in his school's orchestra.
After several years of studying and performing classical music, Wilbert turned his attention to the guitar. His mother bought his first guitar, a Harmony, for $86.50 (including amplifier) from Ben's Department Store. He learned to play a couple of songs, figured he had accomplished his goal and then set the guitar down for a while. When a musical group called The Students invited him to play with them, he began to play the guitar again seriously. After doing shows with them at the Motown Revue, he got a taste for the music business and began working with other local players.
Wilbert has released several recordings as a leader and has performed with a wide variety of the great jazz artists of our day, such as Jack McDuff, Billy Eckstine, Lou Rawls, Jimmy Smith, Art Farmer, Herbie Hancock, and Larry Corryell. Wilbert's most recent recording is with organist Hank Marr.
Longmire was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and learned the violin as a child before gravitating to the guitar. The first band he played in was a doo-wop group called The Students. When he was 23, he joined Hammond hero, Hank Marr’s combo in the early ’60s and later joined the band of another organist, Philly-based Trudy Pitts, playing on two of the latter’s LPs for Prestige.
Wilbert Longmire played in the early 1960s in the music scene of Cincinnati. His first recordings were made in 1963 with the Hank Marr Quartet ("The Greasy Spoon", Federal). He worked as a session musician for King Records with Red Prysock and Jack McDuff a.o.. In 1967 he recorded in New York with Trudy Pitts / Bill Carney .
Around 1968 he recorded in Los Angeles his debut album Revolution. The studio band directed by Joe Sample included Gary Barone, George Bohanon, Anthony Ortega, Wilton Fields, Leon Spencer, Larry Gales and Paul Humphrey. In the following years he worked in Gerald Wilson's Big Band and with Rusty Bryant. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Longmire first came to the attention of many R&B and jazz fans in the late 1970s when he recorded for Bob James’ short-lived Tappan Zee label. Enthusiastically recommended to James by another guitarist, George Benson, Longmire recorded three LPs for Tappan Zee between 1978 and 1980. ‘’Sunny Side Up’’ was his debut, followed by ‘’Champagne,’’ and ‘’With All My Love,’’ the latter two charting in the US R&B chart.
In the late ’60s, he did sessions with French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and west coast arranger, Gerald Wilson. Longmire released his first album in 1969. It was called “Revolution’’ and was helmed by noted pianist and Jazz Crusaders’ member, Joe Sample. He didn’t record his next album – “This Side Of Heaven” – until 1976, by which time he was on the indie label, J&M.
After his stint with Tappan Zee, Mr. Longmire fell off the radar for many years. In recent years, his albums for Tappan Zee have been reissued in the UK and Japan. His work can be heard on a forthcoming Cherry Red compilation, ‘The Very Best Of Tappan Zee,” released on February 9, which features Mr. Longmire’s ‘’Black Is The Color,’’ ‘’Good Morning,’’ ‘’Love’s Holiday,’’ and ‘Take Your Time.’’
Wilbert Longmire, one of the finer gems mined from Cincinnati's rich vein of great jazz guitarists, began his musical life in the west end of Cincinnati in what he calls a "street corner symphony" - a group of young people who gathered together to sing. His first foray into the world of instrumental music was as a violinist in his school's orchestra.
After several years of studying and performing classical music, Wilbert turned his attention to the guitar. His mother bought his first guitar, a Harmony, for $86.50 (including amplifier) from Ben's Department Store. He learned to play a couple of songs, figured he had accomplished his goal and then set the guitar down for a while. When a musical group called The Students invited him to play with them, he began to play the guitar again seriously. After doing shows with them at the Motown Revue, he got a taste for the music business and began working with other local players.
Wilbert has released several recordings as a leader and has performed with a wide variety of the great jazz artists of our day, such as Jack McDuff, Billy Eckstine, Lou Rawls, Jimmy Smith, Art Farmer, Herbie Hancock, and Larry Corryell. Wilbert's most recent recording is with organist Hank Marr.
Black Is The Color
Wilbert Longmire Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Black Is The Color' by these artists:
2 Devine Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips…
Brian McFadden feat. Sinéad O'Connor Black is the color of my true love's hair Her lips…
Brianna Aimes Black is the color of my true love`s hair Her lips…
Cara Dillon & 2 Devine Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips…
Cara Dillon & 2Divine Black is the colour of my true love's hair. Her lips…
Celtic Thunder Black is the color of my true love's hair Her lips…
Espers Black is the color of my true love's hair His face…
G.E. Smith & LeRoy Bell I'm not finished В чёрных цветах, разноцветный мой стиль Иг…
Gaelic Storm Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips…
Jean Ritchie But black is the color of my true love's hair His…
Jimmie Rodgers Black, black is the colour Of my true love's hair Her…
Joan Baez Black, black, black Is the color of my true love's hair He…
Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks Black is the color of my true loves hair, and…
Lucette Black is the colour of my true loves hair His lips…
Marcy D'Arcy Black is the color of my true love`s hair Her…
Music-Themes Yeah I thought I told ya I'm really trying to…
Nina Simone Traditional Black is the color of my true love's hair His f…
Papa M Black is the color of my true love's hair Her lips…
Pete Seeger Black is the color of my true love's hair His face…
Pete Seeger Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly Black is the color of my true love's hair His face…
Rhiannon Giddens Black is the color of my true love's hair His lips…
Shelby Flint Black, black, black is the color of my true love's…
Tar and Flowers Said you want it like that Can't take it back Switching up…
Tears for Beers Black is the color of my true love`s hair Her lips…
Ted Alevizos & Joan Baez & Bill Wood Black, black, black Is the color of my true love's hair Her…
The Irish Brigade Black is the color of my true love's hair Her lips…
The Ones "They put their club upside your head And then turn around…
X-Legged Sally & The Smith Quartet Nubian Queen Never let nobody play you or shit on…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Wilbert Longmire:
Love's Holiday Would you mind if I touch, If I kiss, if I…
Lovely Day lovely day…
Lovely Days lovely day…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Cyril Roberts
This was a Jazz Dancer's Delightfully playful dance track!!!! Brilliant on so many levels and so underrated "Back In The Day"!!!!
Gary Clarke
One could say this track defines jazz funk music, so intelligent, so uniquely tuneful and rhythmic - "black"!!
Hugo Hackenbush
Oh absolutely it was. I'd have this on in the bedroom and just couldn't help but move. Drove downstairs mad!
boggyandbob
Yes totatally agree this was a big tune back in the day
SJ Daws
Frenchies, Kings Lodge, Wings, Gold Mine, Lacy Lady et al. Hilly gave this LP to me after a fancy dress comp. Timeless classic :) :)
Hugo Hackenbush
Frenchies!!! Lacy Lady!!! Now we're talking proper nights out. Dayamm but I wish I'd a time machine. In my 60s now lol
nasr 1953
So many memories of those clubs and this music, life was simpler but far better 65 years old and still can't stay still to this.
M D
A slice of pure genius
Arizona Wrestling Interviews
Bob James production in the 70s was sublime!
Rob Varney
Got this on a Tappan Zee sampler with Bob James' Touchdown and Watermelon Man by Mongo Santamaria. Love it