René Thomas (guitarist)

René Thomas
Born(1926-02-25)25 February 1926
Liège, Belgium
Died3 January 1975(1975-01-03) (aged 48)
Santander, Spain
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1940s–1975
LabelsVogue, Barclay, Polydor, Jazzland, RCA

René Thomas (25 February 1926 – 3 January 1975) was a Belgian jazz guitarist.

In the early 1950s, he moved to Paris, France, and became part of the modern jazz scene, playing in the style of Jimmy Raney. He spent brief periods in the United States from 1958 to 1962. Back in Europe, he toured and recorded with Chet Baker, Bobby Jaspar, Kenny Clarke, Eddy Louiss, Stan Getz, Lucky Thompson, Sonny Criss, Jacques Pelzer, Lou Bennett, Charles "Lolo" Bellonzi, and Ingfried Hoffmann.

Thomas died of a heart attack in Santander, Spain, at the age of 48 on 3 January 1975.