[4] In the early 1970s, located in California and credited as Andrew Herring, he played college and community venues as a country-folk artist.
A more recent autobiographical statement on his now-defunct website described living in Rhonert Park, California in 1973, teaching guitar classes at a local college.
He’s a might good okie songster and a great road buddy in hotels with truckers, cowboys and whores," wrote Elliot.
Critic and DJ Jay Meehan observed that the album paid close homage to the styles of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack.
Thomas joined his friend in the studio and the short concert included the two trading songs on air and playing together as station personnel recorded the performance.
[17] In 1975, Thomas began working with producer Nick Venet and engineer Andy MacDonald at the Record Plant.
"Required listening for every budding troubadour," according to the Tucson Daily Citizen, which compared Thomas favorably to Jim Croce.
[25] In 1975, Thomas landed a small role in the Hal Ashby film Bound for Glory, portraying Woody Guthrie's younger brother George.
"Weak," said The Lawrence Journal-World, which nonetheless noted Thomas' development as an artist and singled out "Band of Steel" as a high point, along with a duet with John Hartford.
Writing from the Travis County Jail to the editor of the Austin-American Statesman, Thomas asserted that Vick was his wife of two and a half years and that he was being aided in setting up interviews and press coverage for his plight by friends such as Ringo Starr, the local sheriff Raymond Frank, and Playboy Magazine: "I am no criminal.
[38] A week later, the newspaper announced an eight-hour concert to raise funds for Thomas, with performances by Arlo Guthrie, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Fromholz, John Hartford, B.W.
He described plans to scrap those songs and write new material based on his experiences in the Travis County jail, and expressed thanks for the support of Jerry Jeff Walker.
Reporters from the Austin Daily Texan traced the phone number of the Ringo Starr interview and placed a call to it, answered by Guthrie Thomas.
[42][43][44][45] By August 5, Thomas was back in prison, the result of his bondsman asking to be released from the contract, citing unpaid fees.
Opening for John Hartford, the Burlington Free Press praised his guitar and singing, but criticized his excessive drinking, smoking and swearing on stage, which alienated the attendees.
[49] A year later, Thomas was briefly the subject of a death hoax in Austin, but local journalists confirmed he was indeed still alive.
[52] On 1983's As Yet Untitled, Thomas contributed a statement on the album jacket, alluding to a turbulent time in his past in which he struggled with "drugs, alcohol and over-inflated ego."
By 1977, still living in Topanga Canyon, Thomas claimed to be worth $2.5 million, on account of strong overseas sales of his music and royalties from his work on the film Bound for Glory, with hopes of shopping his next album to MCA Records.
[56][57][58] On 1984's Hobo Eagle Thief "Guthrie Thomas, just as natural as a sunrise, aided by a score of friends, including Ringo Starr on drums.
The cliches are nearly overwhelming on every cut..."[60] Of 1996's Midnight Train, Dirty Linen said "He gets a good cowboy vibe going, but you know he'll be blowing out of town with the tumbleweeds come the next dust storm.
Eagle Records, with Thomas as president and often credited as producer, advertised production and distribution services worldwide.
Eagle released albums by a variety of artists, including Mustard's Retreat, Josh White Jr. and Steve Bach.
Thomas signed Nilsen and produced his first three albums (Sea of Inspiration, Transparencies and October in September), helping launch the pianist's career.
[65] Other titles in the catalog included albums by New Wave band Bully Boy, Deborah Liv Johnson, jazz guitarist Cam Newton, violinist Kim Angelis,[66] and country-charting duo Topel and Ware.
He also had a business making custom guitar picks, some in collaboration with long-time Willie Nelson lighting director Budrock Prewitt.