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Jimmy Thomas

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For the American football player, seeJimmy Thomas (American football).

Jimmy Thomas
Born(1939-01-20)January 20, 1939
Osceola, Arkansas,U.S.
DiedApril 25, 2022(2022-04-25)(aged 83)
Hammersmith, London,England
GenresSoul,R&B
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1958–2022
Labels
Websitehttp://osceolarecords.co.uk/

Jimmy Thomas(January 20, 1939 – April 25, 2022) was an American soul singer and songwriter. He was best known as a vocalist forIke Turner.[1]Thomas joined Turner'sKings of Rhythmin 1958, and remained with the band when theIke & Tina Turner Revuewas formed in 1960. He released solo singles on Turner's labelsSue,Sputnik, andSonja Records.[2]After his departure from Turner, Thomas continued recording as a solo artist, eventually relocating to London. He formed his own label, Osceola Records, in 1979.[1]

Life and career

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Early life

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Thomas was born inOsceola, Arkansason January 20, 1939. Raised by his aunt and uncle, Thomas grew up listening to blues musicians such asBig Maceo,Tampa Red,Walter Davis,andSonny Boy Williamson.[2]In his teens, Thomas formed his first band called the Rock and Roll Trays. They performed popularR&Bandbluestunes in clubs around Osceola. In 1958,Albert Kingrecommended that Thomas travel toEast St. Louisand audition for a spot as a vocalist in Ike Turner's band theKings of Rhythm.[2]

Kings of Rhythm

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By 1956, Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm were one of the most popularlive attractionsin theSt. Louisand East St. Louis club scene. In 1958, Turner was looking for a new vocalist following the departure ofClayton Love.[2]Thomas replaced Love and was soon joined by singer Tommy Hodge. Around the time Thomas and Hodge joined the Kings of Rhythm, Turner shifted from his usual blues oriented sound to producing R&B material.[2]That year, Thomas made his recording debut during the group'sCobra Recordssessions in Chicago. He was featured on Turner's singles released onStevens Recordsin 1959. In St. Louis, Thomas also performed withBenny Sharp,Eugene Neal, and Albert King.[2]

Ike and Tina Turner Revue

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In 1960, Turner wrote "A Fool in Love"forArt Lassiter.[3]When Lassiter failed to show up for the recording session, one of Turner's background vocalists, Little Ann, sang the lead. Little Ann was renamedTina Turner,and the single was released onSue Records.Following the success of the single, Turner formed theIke & Tina Turner Revuewhich included the Kings of Rhythm and a trio of female vocalists calledthe Ikettes.[3]In 1961, Thomas and Ikette Wilhelmina Weaver (as Jimmy & Jean) released the single "I Can't Believe" / "I Want Marry You" on Sue. After Ike & Tina had a string of hit records, Turner relocated the band to Los Angeles in 1962. When the hits dried up they began to tour vigorously. Thomas recalled, "We would only be in L.A. three months out of the year, we be touring like nine months."[2]Since they couldn't rely on records, the revue strengthened their live act by added dance routines. Thomas and Tina Turner would change the routines and have dance battles onstage.[2]

In 1962, Thomas released his single "You Can Go" / "Hurry And Come Home" on Sue Records.[4]In between touring, Turner formed multiple record labels to release singles.[3][2]Thomas released solo singles on Turner's labels Sputnik andSonja.In 1964, the revue released their first live album,Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live,which features Thomas' rendition of "Feel So Good" byJunior Parker.[5]His rendition of "Down In The Valley"is included on the revue's follow-up live album,Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show,released in 1965.

Solo career

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While the Ike & Tina Turner Revue were touring the UK withthe Rolling Stonesin 1966, Thomas befriended producersDenny CordellandTony Visconti,who invited him to learn production.[2]Thomas released the single "Where There's a Will (There's a Way)" on Mirwood Records in 1966. After leaving Ike & Tina Turner, he worked local jobs in Los Angeles before relocating to London in 1969.[2]He began producing his own solo records such as theNorthern soulclassic "The Beautiful Night" released onParlophonein 1969. In 1973, Thomas wrote and produced a solo LP,Abyss,released on Contempo, a London label owned by John Abbey, founder ofBlues and Soulmagazine. Thomas formed his own label, Osceola Records, in 1979.[1]

Beginning in the 1970s, Thomas provided background vocals for various acts, includingGary Wright,David Essex,Voyage,Mikael Rickfors,Lloyd Cole & The Commotions,Madness,Miguel Bosé,Blue Mercedes,andKevin Rowland.

Death

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His death in April 2022 was confirmed online by his friendP. P. Arnold.[6][7]

Discography

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Albums

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  • 1973:Abyss

Ike and Tina Turner

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Singles

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  • 1961: Jimmy & Jean – "I Can't Believe" / "I Want Marry You" (Sue 743)
  • 1961: "I Must Be Crazy" / "Every Day I Wake Up Crying" (Play Back Record PO-0037A)
  • 1962: "You Can Go" / "Hurry And Come Home" (Sue 778)
  • 1963: "The Darkest Hour" / "The Little Cheater" (Sputnik 10001)
  • 1964: "You've Tasted Anothers Lips" / "I Love Nobody But You" (Sonja 2004)
  • 1966: "Where There's A Will" / "Just Trying To Please You" (Mirwood 5522)
  • 1969: "The Beautiful Night" / "Above A Whisper" (Parlophone R 5773)
  • 1970: "(We Ain't Here Looking For) No Trouble" / "Springtime" (Spark SRL 1035)
  • 1971: "White Dove" / "You Don't Have To Say Goodbye" (Sire45-4121)
  • 1973: "All God's Children" / "The Weak-End Is Mine" (Contempo C 8)
  • 1975: "Beautiful Night" / "I Can't Live My Life Without You" (20th Century RecordsBTC 1002)
  • 1981: "Hang Right On In There" / "Driving Wheel" (Osceola Records OSC 2)
  • 1982: "Standing Alone In A Crowd" / "Mister Are You Famous" (Cricket LBW 002)
  • 2002: "We Got Togetherness" / "Secret Doors To Secret Places" (Smoke City SMC 9001)

Features

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  • 1959: "Jack Rabbit" / "In Your Eyes Baby" (Stevens 104) with Icky Renrut (alias for Ike Turner)
  • 1959: "Hey – Hey" / "Ho – Ho" (Stevens 107) with Icky Renrut (alias for Ike Turner)
  • 1980: "Just A Matter Of Time" (Laser LAS 34) with Zen

Backing vocal credits

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References

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  1. ^abc"Jimmy Thomas | Biography & History".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 18,2019.
  2. ^abcdefghijkGreensmith, Bill (2015).Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine.Russell, Tony, Camarigg, Mark, Rowe, Mike. University of Illinois Press. pp. 189–260.ISBN9780252097508.OCLC922018263.
  3. ^abcTurner, Ike (1999).Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner.Cawthorne, Nigel. London: Virgin.ISBN1852278501.OCLC43321298.
  4. ^"Singles Reviews"(PDF).Billboard.December 29, 1962. p. 14.
  5. ^"The Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live – Ike & Tina Turner | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  6. ^Pat Arnold,Facebook.com,26 April 2022.Retrieved 29 April 2022
  7. ^Woolley, Ian (May 2, 2022)."RIP Jimmy 'Popeye' Thomas".Beat Magazine.RetrievedMay 3,2022.
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