"The Last Hurricane" a bit about Duane....

"HURRICANE" DUANE THOMAS

* Musician, Performer, Producer and Session Musician.
* Lead Guitar, Piano-Organ-Synthesizer
*“JOHNNY & The HURRICANES"
Lead Guitarist-Vocals/Keyboards/Group
Archivist/Website Administrator
* "HEE-HAW" Television show regular
* Member: DETROIT BLUES CLUB
* SOULFUL DETROIT (MOTOWN) MUSIC FORUM
* DETROIT FREE PRESS FORUM

* Co-author: "SAX MAN"
JOHNNY PARIS Biography of JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
* Author: 40 + "DRIVIN' SIDEWAYS IN DETROIT!”
* Author: "PANGIA. FALCOR & THE LOST CRYSTAL".

DUANE THOMAS CURRENTLY MENTIONED:
*"THE ROAD THROUGH MOTOWN"
Ralph Terrana (Motown Records)
*“GHOSTS of ANN ARBOR”
Michelle Uptergrove.
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"THE LAST HURRICANE"
A Brief Biography of Hurricane Duane Thomas
by Lazlo Farnsworth, London UK
©2008

As a young teen in the early 1960's, Duane played in many garage bands, and then in large Motown-style horn show bands, often with two drummers. He played sock hops, dances, Quintecerias, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, Teen clubs and Fraternity and Sorority parties at the Universities of Michigan State, Eastern, Ohio, Bowling Green, Central, Western Michigan and University of Michigan and University of Detroit, including some teen TV shows.

*Duane: "We learned out in those garages and basements every new style as it happened. That’s how I grew. I went from 50's Rock and Roll to Soul music. During the Detroit riots, everything changed. All types of music and styles were on radios everywhere. We had to keep up. Now, they just buy a compilation of tunes, knock out a couple, and go from there. I think something important was lost in that method of learning."

Duane has recorded, performed, toured and produced many International and National Recording stars. Some regional groups include "The Radicals", "System", "The Royalists", "Soul Penetrators", "New Reign”, "Sound and Fury", "Southern Comfort", “The Flying Squirrels”, “The Limit”, “Blue Acid”, “Dreamcatcher” and "Hunter-Thomas". By 1973, Duane was a 20-year-old guitar teacher in Dearborn, Michigan.

*Duane: "While teaching in a music store, I was approached to play guitar in Johnny and The Hurricanes. I thought it was a joke. At 1st I was kind of shocked, then overwhelmed AND surprised! I stayed for about a year."

Duane has played and toured with too many groups to mention them all, but include Waylon Jennings (Dukes of Hazzard), Bob Lumen (Rainy Day Women) Sammi Smith (Help me make it through the night). Duane also fronted the groups "Duane Thomas & Melanie Marie Show" in Miami, Florida, "Earthstar” a 9-piece R & B horn group in Florence, South Carolina; and “The Duane Thomas Group” from Coral Gables, Florida, working the hotel and Show-Club circuit.

*Duane: "After about 1981-2, things just exploded for me. I didnt know where I was from minute to minute. Country, town, plane or train...I just didnt stop. And with Johnny and The Hurricanes business and "SAX MAN"s release...I don't expect to slow down any time soon either. The interviews and touring are beginning again in earnest. Really and truely, I am blessed."

Being a songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and Lead Vocalist as well, Duane became the Associate Television Producer of the "RON DENER SHOW" Channel 51 Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and a Video Producer and Booking Agent for RAINBOW PRODUCTIONS in Wisconsin.

*Duane: "Those early music videos were some of the 1st in the world for VHI and others, long before they were popular. In all, I've done well over 35 music videos and many more commercials for radio and television."

By mid-2001, and after retiring with a family leave from the University of Michigan Hospital, he produced and co-wrote the album "DREAMCATCHER" with Leah Winslett, also filling both spots as Lead Guitarist and Musical Director of her touring group. Around that time, Duane also filmed and produced 5 shows at Detroit's Auto-Rama, and a Pepsi Commercial for the Detroit market.

*Duane: "How I ended up in 2006 with Sonja Paris and back with Johnny and The Hurricanes some 30 years after I left the group, even I'm not sure! John passed away, and a simple call of condolence went out, and then…pop! There I was. After pairing up to author "SAX MAN", it was only Sonja and I left standing representing the group after some 50 years of Johnny & The Hurricanes. Ever since, I've been referred to by friends, fans and in print as "Hurricane"-Duane Thomas or "The Last Hurricane." (Note: To this day he's still called by some the nickname Johnny gave him back in '73 "The Kid".) L.F.

Currently, Hurricane Duane is doing radio and television interviews in addition to web-casts around the world in support of the release of "SAX MAN", and finishing his next book "SPIRITS IVE KNOWN...AND A FEW I DIDNT!" As well, he's preparing for the release of some old, new and original music, from both the Hurricanes and himself.

As the Security Supervising Officer in charge of the REGENT COURT BUILDING-FORD WORLD HEADQUARTERS in Dearborn, Michigan, he resides there with his wife Laura and the Wonder Dog "LUCKY".
L.F./Lazlo Farnsworth London Independant, UK ©2008

"SAX MAN" THE AMAZING LIFE STORY OF "SAX MAN" JOHNNY PARIS, JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
& THE BIRTH OF ROCK & ROLL! By SONJA PARIS & "HURRICANE" DUANE THOMAS

"To write about such an extraordinary man, in extraordinary times in Rock and Roll history, "SAX MAN" has become much more than any ordinary novel. With this true story of "SAX MAN" Johnny Paris, the Birth of Rock and Roll, and the creation of 50 years of his musical legacy called Johnny and The Hurricanes, his struggles personally, musically and legally, came to center stage almost immediately after he passed from this world, into the one of Legend.

From Johnny's poor and troubled youth as John Pocisk in small town Ohio, up personal ladders and over musical bridges, through dark tunnels and royalty minefields, "SAX MAN" couldn't be anything other than an accurate representation of the truth. It was the very Birth of Rock and Roll, and the Day the Music Died. "SAX MAN" portrays the real-life story of Johnny Paris, Johnny and The Hurricanes, American Bandstand, The Beatles, bad deals, hit records, hookers and Red Light Districts. His was a poor childhood, and a personality hidden, from even his closest friends and family.

From "Red River Rock" and black-listing, to a devastating divorce, a life abroad, and to a new and true love found…"SAX MAN" is his story. From the detailed pages of his diaries, to interviews both recent and historical, to memories of famous Entertainers, childhood friends, fans and former band mates alike, to his personal life with his wife, the life of Johnny Paris is now told. One would be hard pressed to invent a life story as amazing as his!" COMING 2009

SONJA PARIS & "HURRICANE" DUANE THOMAS "SAX MAN" ©2008