Frantic Faye Thomas

Biography

Fannie Crawford, known professionally as Frantic Faye Thomas or Frantic Fay Thomas, was born on September 14, 1922, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Elijah Crawford, a cook. A self-taught pianist who never had formal lessons and relied on her ear, she began performing at age three and turned professional in 1940 at Detroit's 12 Horsemen Club for $3 a night plus tips, where she was discovered by showman Earl Carroll, who signed her to an $11-a-week contract and dubbed her 'Frantic Fay.' Her energetic, uninhibited style drew from boogie-woogie and jazz, influenced by the hectic war years, earning her nicknames like 'Bombshell of Mirth and Music' and 'The Hottest Piano in the West.'

Thomas toured extensively in the 1940s across the U.S., performing at venues such as McCarthy's in Milwaukee, the Show Bar in Detroit, Trainor's in Troy, New York, the Carlton in Reno, Nevada, and the Saddle & Sirloin in Bakersfield, California. In May 1949, she recorded four songs for Leon René’s Exclusive Records in Los Angeles with Red Callender on bass and Lee Young on drums: 'I'm In Town,' 'Waga-Waga' (also called 'Monkey Song'), 'I Don't Want Your Money, Honey,' and 'Lover Man.' A second session in late 1949 featured Leonard Bibb on bass and included 'Thinking Of You,' 'I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City,' 'I Only Want You,' and the instrumental 'Fay's Boogie.' Despite a short recording career spanning three sessions from 1946-1949, she continued performing into the 1950s in California clubs like Club Royale in San Diego and Astor's Bar in Universal City, and later in the Midwest after relocating to Detroit in the 1960s.

Thomas married Lonnie I. Riggs in 1954 and passed away in Detroit on July 5, 1978. Her lively boogie-woogie piano and vocals left a niche legacy in post-war swing and early R&B, with her songs later appearing in film soundtracks such as Lonely Hearts (2006), Second Skin (2000), and Men of Honor (2000).[1][2][3][4]

Fun Facts

• During a 1946 performance at the Carlton in Reno, Nevada, Thomas confronted pharmacy student Vaughn Spratt who sat on her piano stool and harassed her, leading to a public altercation.[1]
• She was advertised as 'Direct from Harlem's leading night spot - New York' in 1948, though no confirmed New York City appearances have been found.[1]
• Her nonsense song 'Waga-Waga' from 1949 is sometimes called 'Monkey Song' due to lyrics referencing a monkey.[1]
• Thomas performed at the 1950 Watts 'Cavalcade Of Health' event alongside Herb Jeffries, Martha Davis, and Pee-Wee Crayton to promote tuberculosis prevention.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Earl Carroll - Showman who discovered her at 12 Horsemen Club and signed her to a contract, dubbing her 'Frantic Fay' (Initial professional contract) [1940]

Key Collaborators

• Red Callender - Bassist on first recording session ("I'm In Town," "Waga-Waga," "I Don't Want Your Money, Honey," "Lover Man") [May 1949]
• Lee Young - Drummer on first and second recording sessions (1949 Exclusive sessions including "Fay's Boogie") [1949]
• Leonard Bibb - Bassist on second recording session ("Thinking Of You," "I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City," "I Only Want You," "Fay's Boogie") [November 1949]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz