John H. Thomas, a dapper pianist and vocalist who was a mainstay in the Harold Betters Quartet, died Friday.

He was 89.

Mr. Thomas' stepdaughter, Kim Craig of Penn Hills, said he had suffered from lung cancer for the past few years.

Mr. Thomas, who had lived in the Hill District, was born in South Boston, W.Va. It is not known when he arrived in Pittsburgh, possibly sometime after he was discharged from the Army.

Pianist John Hughes remembers meeting Mr. Thomas in 1947, when he worked as the house pianist at the old Stanley Lounge at Fullerton and Wiley avenues in the Hill. Mr. Hughes was working down the street, for Gus Greenlee at the original Crawford Grill.

Mr. Hughes said Mr. Thomas also worked as the pianist for a local TV talent show and at the Loendi and the Washington clubs in the Hill District.

"He was not limited to a style," said Mr. Hughes. "He could do it all."

In the early 1950s, he joined Harold Betters' band, performing at the old Encore in Shadyside.

"We played the Encore every night of the week for about 12 years," said Mr. Betters. "John was the finest pianist I ever had. I don't think he knew how good he was."

The band performed several times on television on "The Mike Douglas Show" in Cleveland. When the Douglas show moved to Philadelphia, the Betters quartet was invited to perform again.

Later, the group was invited to perform on "The Merv Griffin Show" in New York City.

"It was a really wonderful time," said Mr. Betters. "John really enjoyed that."

In 1966, Mr. Betters also took Mr. Thomas to Palo Alto, Calif., when the group was invited to perform a three-week engagement at Nero's Nook, a club owned by Doris Day.

Mr. Thomas was the pianist when comedian Dick Gregory hired Mr. Betters' group to perform as his backup band at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C., and later at the Apollo Theater in New York.

Mr. Thomas was also a featured vocalist. His signature songs were "Danny Boy," "What a Difference a Day Makes" and "Ole Man River."

"When he sang he put everything he could into the songs," said Mr. Betters.

"His style was unique. Those were the tunes that his fans would request."

Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at House of Law, 9406 Frankstown Road, Penn Hills.