Timothy Earle Thomas(November 13, 1944 – March 11, 2022) was an AmericanR&Bsinger,keyboardist,songwriter, and record producer, best known for thehitsong, "Why Can't We Live Together".[1]
Timmy Thomas | |
|---|---|
 Thomas atSXSW2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy Earle Thomas |
| Born | November 13, 1944 Evansville, Indiana,U.S. |
| Died | March 11, 2022(aged 77) Miami, Florida,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | Early 1960s–1990s |
| Labels | |
Life and career
editThomas was born inEvansville, Indiana,on November 13, 1944,[2]one of twelve siblings.[3]He first attracted interest in his work as anaccompanistwithDonald ByrdandCannonball Adderley,before working as asession musician[1]inMemphis,Tennessee,and releasingsingleson theGoldwax Recordslabel.He had littlesolosuccess until he moved toGlades RecordsinMiami,Florida,and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together".[1]Therecordtopped the U.S.BillboardR&Bchart,made the top three on theBillboardHot 100,and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom[2]where it peaked at number 12 on theUK Singles Chart.[4]Thisdiscsold over two million copies.[2]
He was earlier part of a group called Phillip & the Faithfuls, which also included the singer Phillip Reynolds, releasing material for the Goldwax imprint, including "Love Me", "What'Cha Gonna Do" and "'If You Love Her" (all in 1964).[citation needed]He then became a session musician in Memphis, continuing to release solo sides for Goldwax, including "Have Some Boogaloo".[citation needed]He also released "It's My Life" in 1967. In 1970, he had switched labels to the Climax imprint and one side called "What's Bothering Me".[citation needed]Relocating to Miami, Florida, in 1972, Thomas played sessions for the TK group labels, signing to the Glades Records imprint, where, later that year, he released "Why Can't We Live Together".[5]
Thomas followed up the release with "People Are Changin'" (B-side "Rainbow Power" ) which reached the charts in 1973. In 1974, he released the albumYou're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing.[citation needed]He went on to release six further Glades singles and then, in 1975 recorded a duet withBetty Wrightentitled "It's What They Can't See".[citation needed]From 1976 through 1980, Thomas recorded singles for both the Glades imprint and the T.K. Disco label, including "Stone to the Bone", "Africano", "Touch to Touch", "The Magician", "Freak In, Freak Out" and "Drown in My Own Tears" and the albumsThe Magician(Glades, 1976) andTouch to Touch(Glades, 1977).[citation needed]He also continued to work on sessions forTK Recordsartists,includingGwen McCrae,and in later years as a producer.[6]
Thomas went on to record several R&B hits culminating in "Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)", a U.S. top 30 soul entry in 1984 for Gold Mountain Records.[1]Thomas appeared onNicole McCloud's 1985 albumWhat About Me?,singing on a duet with her called "New York Eyes". This track reached number 41 in the UK.[4]
In the 1990s, he worked as a producer forLaFace Recordsand released the albumWith Heart and Soulfor DTM Records. Also, his song "(Dying Inside) To Hold You" was a hit in the Philippines, and gained further popularity in 2017 when it was covered byDarren Espantofor the filmAll of You.[citation needed]
In 2015,Drakesampled Thomas' signature hit, "Why Can't We Live Together", on his single "Hotline Bling".[7]
Thomas died of cancer on March 11, 2022, at the age of 77.[8][9]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [10] |
US R&B [10] | |||||
| 1972 | Why Can't We Live Together[11] | 53 | 10 | |||
| 1974 | You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing[12] | — | — | |||
| 1976 | The Magician[12] | — | — | |||
| 1977 | Touch to Touch[12] | — | — | |||
| 1979 | Live[12] | — | — | |||
| 1984 | Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)[12] | — | — | |||
| 1994 | With Heart and Soul | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [13] |
US R&B [14] |
US Dance [15] |
AUS [16] |
UK [17] |
CAN (RPM) [18] | ||
| 1972 | "Why Can't We Live Together" | 3 | 1 | — | 25 | 12 | 6 |
| 1973 | "People Are Changin'" | 75 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| "Let Me Be Your Eyes" | 107 | 48 | — | — | — | — | |
| "What Can I Tell Her" | 102 | 19 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1974 | "One Brief Moment" | — | 62 | — | — | — | — |
| "I've Got to See You Tonight" / "You're the Song (I've Always Wanted to Sing)" |
— — |
31 78 |
— | — | — | — | |
| "Deep in You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Sexy Woman" | — | 69 | — | — | — | — |
| "Ebony Affair" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1976 | "Love Shine" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "The Magician"(UK only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1977 | "Stone to the Bone" | — | 74 | 12 | — | — | — |
| "Touch to Touch" | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | |
| 1978 | "Freak In, Freak Out" | — | 92 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | "Drown in My Own Tears" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981 | "Are You Crazy???" (Pt. 1) | — | 73 | — | — | — | — |
| 1982 | "My Last Affair" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984 | "Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)" | 80 | 29 | 28 | — | — | — |
| "Love Is Never Too Late" | — | 90 | — | — | — | — | |
| 1985 | "New York Eyes"(withNicole) | — | — | — | — | 41 | — |
| 1990 | "Why Can't We Live Together"(remix) | — | — | — | — | 54 | — |
| "(Dying Inside) To Hold You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | "What Do You Say to a Lady"(withJackie Moore) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (1993).The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.p. 271.ISBN0-85112-733-9.
- ^abcMurrells, Joseph (1978).The Book of Golden Discs(2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.322.ISBN0-214-20512-6.
- ^Hill, Rose (March 14, 2022)."R&B legend Timmy Thomas, whose song was sampled by Drake for Hotline Bling, dies".Daily Mirror.RetrievedMarch 15,2022.
- ^abRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 557.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^Galloway, A. Scott (1993).Timmy Thomas - Why Can't We Live Together(Media notes). Narberth, PA: Collectables Records. COL-CD-5433.
- ^McDonald, Steven."Artist Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
- ^Almeida, Celia (February 14, 2018)."After Drake Sampled Timmy Thomas' Song on" Hotline Bling, "the Soul Singer Is on a Mission to Meet the Rapper".Miami New Times.RetrievedMarch 14,2022.
- ^Sandomir, Richard (March 15, 2022)."Timmy Thomas, Singer Whose Biggest Hit Was an Antiwar Anthem, Dies at 77".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 15,2022.
- ^""Why Can't We Live Together" singer Timmy Thomas dies at 77 ".Soul Tracks.March 12, 2022.RetrievedMarch 12,2022.
- ^ab"Timmy Thomas - Awards".AllMusic. Archived fromthe originalon January 13, 2015.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
- ^"Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".AllMusic.RetrievedMarch 14,2022.
- ^abcdeBurgess, Greg (2004).Timmy Thomas - You're The Song (I've Always Wanted To Sing)(Media notes). EMI Records.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2003).Top Pop Singles 1955-2002(1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.709.ISBN0-89820-155-1.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(1996).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995.Record Research. p. 443.
- ^"Chart History - Timmy Thomas: Dance Club Songs".Billboard.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
- ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 308.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^Betts, Graham (2004).Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004(1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 783.ISBN0-00-717931-6.
- ^"RPM Top 100 Singles - February 17, 1973"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on November 11, 2012.
External links
edit- Timmy Thomasdiscography atDiscogs
- Timmy ThomasatIMDb