Cheryl Thomas, musician, educator, performer, Gourd instrument maker, business owner, originator of Natural Art Enterprises, a hand-manufacturing Gourd Item and Instrument company, was born in New York and received a BA from Pace University.

As one of the co-founders and original members of Women of the Calabash and founder of Gourds of Afro Sounds (G.A.S.), an innovative Gourd instrument orchestra established for the promotion of the Gourd musically, she, for over thirty-five years, presents her unique Gourd music/history presentations in schools, libraries, museums, cultural organizations as well as continues to document the history of the Gourd, Gourd instruments, performers, Gourd items, and all things Gourd.

As a competent performer of various Gourd instruments, with her forte being the Shekere and the Vocal Gourd, she has performed with Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Afrazz, Marie Brooks Caribbean Dance Theater, King Wellington’s Calypso Band and performed at The Newark Museum, S.O.B’s – Sounds of Brazil, Jazz in July at the University of Massachusetts, and The Ngo Section Department of Public Information for the United Nations, to name a few.

She also hand manufactures Shekeres and other Gourd instruments and items, which have been purchased by Latin Percussion, Inc., and Drummers World, among others, gives lessons in the art and science of playing the Shekere, hands-on workshops in making various Gourd instruments and items, lecture/demonstrates the sights, the sounds, the feel of some of the many Gourd instruments she has available, and is a member of the American Gourd Society, the New York State Gourd Society, and Local 802AFM of New York.

Cheryl carries on in the tradition of dedicating her services to continue the cultural, educational and musical traditions that will serve to re-create and enhance the knowledge of the Gourd.

Contact Info:

Cheryl Thomas
P.O. Box 2473
Brooklyn, New York 11202
718-622-2642
naturalartenterprises@hotmail.com