DO YOU HEAR ME ?

     DO YOU HEAR ME ? is the latest release from long-time Blues, Funk, Jazz drummer, producer, singer, and songwriter, Emry Thomas aka Emilio Thomas/ET.  After years of performing and recording  with other artists, E.T. has finally written, performed, and produced his own project.  Playing drums and singing on all tracks.  Emry Thomas secured his first professional  recording deal in 1971.  At the time he was attending North Texas State University, majoring in education and studying percussion, and also playing the night club scene with his long-time friend, keyboardist Andre Lewis.  Lewis went on to work with his friend Buddy Miles, but when he left to form his own group, Maxayn, he asked E.T. to join him.  Maxayn was a New Age group that utilized synthesizers, and it was named after lead vocalist Maxayn  Lewis, who had worked with Bobby Bland and Ike and Tina Turner as an Ikett.
     Maxayn signed with Capricorn records, based in Macon, Georgia, an association that lasted for three years, and resulted in the release of three albums: Maxayn , Maxayn / Mindful, and Maxayn / Bail Out for Fun.  While working with Maxayn, E.T. acted as a staff producer for Super Groove Music, a production company headed by Andre Lewis.  It was during this time that he began to perfect his writing skills and production techniques.  Super Groove worked  with, such notables as Patti LaBelle, Betty Everett, D. J. Rogers, Cix Bit Blues Band, Charles Wright, and the late Johnny “Guitar” Watson.  While working with “Guitar”, E.T. received considerable recognition.  Their first recording sessions took place in 1974-75 when Watson was signed to Fantasy Records in Berkeley, California.  Watson had two releases on Fantasy, Listen, and I Don’t Want to be a Lone Stranger.  The Stranger Album was E.T.’s first hit recording. 
     After Watson left Fantasy Records and signed with DJM (Dick James Music) of London, England, E.T. became more involved in production.  In 1976-77, on the albums  Ain’t That a Bitch and The Real Mother for Ya, E.T. received two gold albums for his involvement as drummer and co-producer.  With these successes E.T. became the founding member of the Watsonian Institute, the recording and touring group working with Watson.  The Watsonian Institute had two DJM releases:  The Watsonian Institute / Master Funk and Watsonian Institute / EDP.
     In 1978-79 with the rise of Disco and Rap, the music business changed radically, shifting from live players to robots or drum machines.  Production transitioned to a more computerized approach.  Production personnel and producers embraced these new and cost efficient changes, which displaced many drummers.  While E.T.’s drums were sampled by many rapper including, Redman, Jay Z, Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Mary J. Blige, and even Kanye West to name a few.  He himself was turned off by what he called the” fake ass” grooves that were driving the market-place.  After a while the touring gigs began to dry up, it became more and more difficult to find work, and E.T. made the decision to continue his education.  After receiving an AA degree from Los Angeles City College, where he studied percussion and graphic arts, E.T. transferred to UCLA  where he earned a B.A. in History. His plans include not only playing, writing, and producing music, but also teaching.  E.T. has often said that he left the music business when it changed from humans to machines, with this new project he hopes to open up some eyes and ears and let young people know there is nothing like the sound of real drums and real drummers.