Since arriving in San Diego in 1987, bluesman Earl Thomas has played just about every venue imaginable. In one of his earliest incarnations, Earl Thomas and the Blues Ambassadors, he performed Robert Johnson classics to passerby at the corner of Prospect and Herschel in La Jolla. In suit, tie and shined shoes, his sharp-dressed delta blues group earned upwards of $200 apiece from San Diegans out for a night on the town.

Now, over 10 years and numerous successes later — including a European tour with Buddy Guy and original songs covered by Etta James, Solomon Burke and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins — Thomas is back in La Jolla. This weekend, the matter-of-factly ‘out’ vocalist will be performing three blocks south of his old busking grounds, inside the Hard Rock Café. Accompanied by his gospel-tinged female backups, The Jezebelles, Thomas will celebrate the release of his latest CD, Soul’d.

“I’m just glad to have a gig indoors,” Thomas joked, when questioned about playing Prospect Street again.

Soul’d finds Thomas’s gritty yet soulful chops in top form, with production values finally reaching a level worthy of the singer’s songwriting expertise. Fortunately, a few of Thomas’ compositions return from his last, decidedly undervalued effort, 2001’s The Elector Studio Sessions: “I Won’t Be Around” (co-writing by his mom, the late Jewell Bridgeman) and “I’m Broken Hearted” (with trumped up horns added to the melodic, latent hit). Other standouts include the empowering “Little Brother” and the down and dirty blues rocker, “Take itLike a Man.”

Though stateside acclaim has largely eluded Thomas, backed by a new label, Memphis International, and its president, former Warner Brothers’ powerhouse Bob Merlis, Thomas seems better situated for chart success. Soul’d is currently receiving heavy play on XM Radio and Music Choice, and for the first time in his career, this year Thomas made the list of artists considered for a Grammy nomination. Thomas noted, “That’s closer than I’ve ever been in my life…. Even though I didn’t get the nomination, I was heard by the people that will remember me next year.

“Also,” Thomas added, “I got a phone call from Etta James telling me how much she enjoys my record, [saying] that she should be the ‘chick’ singing the duet with me!”

In a first for Thomas, he’ll be touring England from April through June of this year. “I’m going to be performing at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, which is the biggest festival in Britain,” said Thomas. “I’m headlining on the international stage. From what the promoter says, that’s a foot in the door to the British market.”

While there, Thomas is also slated to appear on the top rated British late night show, “Later,” hosted by former Squeeze keyboardist Jools Holland (the show has featured the likes of Sting, Bono and Eric Clapton, to name a few). “He’s like the Jay Leno of Britain,” said Thomas. “Anybody who’s anybody goes on his show when they come to Britain.”

Thomas has also discussed having renowned local blues singer Candye Kane do the tour with him. “You know, we’re the Sonny and Cher of the blues world,” he laughed.

In addition, over the past few years Thomas has been working with his father, Pikesville, Tennessee resident Earl T, kick-starting his career as a blues singer and guitarist. Last year, Thomas produced his father’s CD, 516 Rockford Road, drawing a packed house at Claire de Lune in North Park for the release party.

From the success of the CD and live shows, Thomas’s father was also featured in a commercial promoting tourism in the state. “You know, (when they say), ‘Come to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee,’ … he’s that guy.”

Asked if his father will be back in town any time soon, Thomas said, “Maybe. I can only take him once a year…. He came out twice last year, stayed at my house once, and the second time he stayed in a hotel.”

Though Thomas said both of his parents told him they knew he was gay from an early age, and were accepting of that fact, like many gay men, he grew up having issues with his father.

“I have a hard time playing music with my dad, because I’m still so scared of him — it’s that father-son thing…. I still get really nervous and really uncomfortable and I can’t keep my composure at all.”

Thomas said he did do one duet with his father at Claire de Lune, on the song, “I Sing the Blues.”

Thomas recalled an appearance with his father on KSDS, Jazz 88 FM. “Afterwards, he’s like, ‘Son, I’ve just got to tell you, you’re really good, man,’” said Thomas. “He said, ‘man.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my god, he’s talking to me like an equal.’ It was kind of a vindication, because I was awful at little league and I know I embarrassed him — a lot.”

Thomas said participation in little league was his father’s inexorable decree. “I didn’t want to play fucking baseball or football at all, dude,” said Thomas. “It was not part of my agenda — my dad made me do it. He said, and this is a quote, ‘All boys play baseball. You’re a boy, and you’re going to go play baseball.’

“My dad knew that I was gay. He also knew that I had to be tough…. He knew that if you’re going to have a gay kid, he’s got to be like all the other kids. He goes out in the playground, he going to have his fights and he’s going to do what all the other kids are going to do.

“It made me tough,” Thomas continued, “because I had to fight my way out of a lot of spots…. I had to defend myself a couple of times and it made a man out of me…. I didn’t look for fights, but I never ran from one. [And] if I didn’t run from one, it was on. I’m a pacifist now, but I fought my way through school, no doubt about it…. It wasn’t until I got into college that I realized that, you know, maybe hitting people wasn’t a good idea…. I really had to learn to control my temper — and I did learn. Now, the buttons have been removed from the console.”

The son of a Navy man, Thomas lived in Tennessee, Washington, California, Guam, Hawaii and the Philippines in his youth. Eventually joining the Navy himself, Thomas was released on an honorable discharge for “homosexual misconduct…. There was no ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ back in those days,” recalled Thomas. “Nobody asked, but somebody saw and they told. Next thing you know, I was [a civilian] and making twice as much money…. So you know, it was no big deal.”

The Hard Rock Café is located 909 Prospect St. in La Jolla. Thomas performs at 9:30 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 17, with The Jezebelles and the Blues Ambassadors. Jazz vocalist Steph Johnson opens the show. For more information, phone (858) 456-7625.