Formed in 1981, Mirage was a Jazz-Pop-R&B band featuring female lead vocalist Jeanne Harris, and included James Tart (guitar), Andre Williams (bass ex-Kalima), Walter Porter (keyboards), Joe Thomas, Jr. (alto sax, keyboards ex-Uncle Remus, P-Funk, Plexus…), and Tony Douglas (drums). The band all provided vocals.
Mirage was house band at Pharaoh’s Nightclub located at Greenmount Avenue and 29th Street.
Mirage re-grouped in 1984 with mainstays Walter Porter (keys) and Joe Thomas, Jr. (sax). The new lineup featured a new female lead Nova Thomas (Novelair Peele), adding percussionist Mason Guthrie, and new members Michael Stockton (guitar ex-Black Ice), Ernest Raheim (bass), and Stanley Skinner (drums).
Other members included Robert Sheppard (vocalist), Michael Devilson (keyboards), Ronald Bland (bass ex-Plexus)
They performed regularly at Bill Dotson’s, Thirty-Second Street Plaza, The Haven Lounge…
The group performed for civic organizations, private affairs, frat parties, clubs including Dotson’s (Glen Burnie), and festivals including ArtScape, AFRAM, Kunta Kinte…
Porter, Guthrie, Joe and Nova Thomas later formed State of Affairz. Douglas, Porter, and Delvison later with the Persians Band…
Bio and photos courtesy of Joe Thomas, Jr.
