Joe Thomas was a much admired trumpeter who played throughout the Midwest before moving to New York. There he played with Fletcher Henderson, Claude Hopkins, Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, and various other popular bands. He could also stay busy by freelancing and played with Cozy Cole, Bud Freeman, Barney Bigard, Buck Clayton, Vic Dickenson, Coleman Hawkins, and other top-notch musicians. Occasionally he put together his own band to perform in a club or to make a record.