Bluesman Thomas Dead at 84 Renowned bluesman Tabby Thomas has died at his home in Baton Rouge, La. He was 84. Thomas' daughter, Joylyn Thomas Wright, says her father passed away "peacefully and of natural causes" Wednesday. Thomas would have turned 85 on Sunday. Funeral arrangements were pending. Tabby Thomas is best known for his Louisiana-style blues, a hard-driving blues influenced by the Chicago bands. He opened a music club in Baton Rouge called Tabby's Blues Box, which closed in November 2004 after Thomas suffered a stroke and could no longer oversee its operations. Thomas was married to Jocelyn Johnson Thomas for over 50 years. Joselyn passed away in 2005. The couple had eight children and 20 grandchildren. His son Chris Thomas King is also a musician known for his fusion of rap and blues.