For a brief time in the 1940s he played trombone in Dizzy Gillespie's band until more skilled musicians returned home after completing their military service in World War II.
When friends of filmmakers DeWolfe and Fraser played a tape for them in 2001, they decided to search for information about Thomas and to document their quest on film.
Everything's Coming My Way: The Life and Music of Gordon Thomas debuted at the Bermuda International Film Festival in March 2005.
In his 2000 book Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music, radio host Irwin Chusid included a brief reference to Gordon Thomas.
"Charming, albeit incredibly clumsy singer and lyricist backed by competent jazz sidemen who probably owed him favors.