Before he became famous as a finger picker extraordinaire, Thom was a a member of a very unique southern California surf band called Chiyo and the Crescents.
Chiyo was a guitar teacher of Pueblo Indian descent teaching in Oxnard. She was older than the rest of the band. Thom is kneeling in the right hand front row holding the Jazzmaster. The band was known for carrying their equipment around in a converted hearse.

[img]http://www.the-discographer.dk/vinyl/leon-russell/crescents-disco.pdf[/img]