Night School #174: Ural Thomas

Tonight on Night School, it is my pleasure to host Ural Thomas. Ural’s impact in Albina is unequivocally the stuff of legend. In my cultural work in this area, it is not uncommon to hear mention of Ural’s name with frequency. As many Portlanders know, there is a certain magic about this man and his musical & educational legacy speaks directly to that. 

Stylistically an outsider by nature, Ural’s stage fashion in the 1960s was in line with the likes of Parliament before that group even existed. His handmade robes, wigs, and colorful attire were a shock to many; he once even crafted a stage suit made entirely of his own hair! This was enough to garner the attention of scouts at Uni records, earning him studio time, a few records, and national exposure. 

However, this epoch in Ural’s career was brief. When brought to NYC to open for a stretch with Otis Redding at The Apollo, the hype machine had reached it’s zenith. He had outshone Otis to the extent that - according to local lore - even James Brown was in attendance taking notes on Ural’s eclectic stage work. But it was James who also exposed the industry’s dark side in an incident behind the Apollo wherein he pistol-whipped his own bandmate, leaving an impression on Ural that stuck for decades. 

Uni ultimately did not know what to do with Ural Thomas. Combined with the unsettling effect of James Brown, Ural returned to Portland where he swore off the industry in favor of a more domestic and community-driven approach to his music. In the five decades since, Ural Thomas has educated some of Portland’s top soul & funk exports. His House Of Entertainment - aka his house - has served as a common grounds for Albina elders and youth alike. Members of Pleasure, The Gangsters, and Slickaphonic all came up at Ural’s place, honing their chops and making waves beyond the city’s reaches. 

The rest, shall we say, is history. Or rather, it is history in the making. At a spry 78 years old, it is a wonder that we get to hear new music from Ural Thomas today. Through a chance encounter at Mississippi Records some years back, the seeds of his current group, Ural Thomas & The Pain, were sown. He’s since had a fervent national and local run, bringing the music of Albina to new audiences across the globe. Our community is very much indebted to Eric Isaacson & Scott Magee for their tireless support in bringing Ural back to the stage.

Tune in this evening as we hear from Ural Thomas in the flesh, listening back to a wide range of his catalog all the while. You’ll hear unreleased music as well as classics and some new tunes. Not to be missed!