This live album captures the magic of Joe shows with soulful ballads and upbeat dance hits – some of his best-known tracks as well as two original compositions he composed himself.
Joe was raised in Opelika, Alabama where he sang, played guitar, and directed the church choir. Influences included gospel performers like the Winans, Commission, Vanessa Bell Armstrong as well as soul greats such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
He is an American R&B singer
Joe Thomas offers something for every R&B fan – old school or not – on his latest album. Filled with classic hits as well as new material that will please his fan base everywhere, Joe Thomas has long been considered a master of R&B with an unparalleled style that has earned him many fans across generations. His unique sound and voice have quickly made him one of our favorites!
Joe was raised in Alabama with a deeply religious family who greatly shaped his musical tastes. He became inspired by gospel greats such as Commission, The Winans, Clark Sisters and later Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke – influences which would later influence his style of funk and soul music.
Joe Thomas began singing and writing music after graduating high school while working temporary jobs. Over time he saved up enough money to travel to New Jersey, where he met producer Vincent Herbert. Together, they recorded three-song demo tape that caught Polygram/Mercury’s interest; consequently Joe released his debut album Everything with them in 1993 despite experiencing only moderate success; due to contractual issues he eventually decided to depart their label.
Joe Thomas released his seventh album independently through Kedar Massenburg’s Kedar Entertainment company in 2008. It became a critically acclaimed success with major hit “E.R (Emergency Room),” followed by several less successful singles.
Joe Thomas debuted with his holiday EP Make Sure You’re Home for Christmas in 2012 and became a top twenty hit on the US Billboard Holiday Albums chart. That same year he released My Name is Joe featuring collaborations with singers Fantasia and Fat Joe that reached number eight on the US Billboard 200 charts; Joe continues releasing music and performing, despite reports of his retirement.
He is a songwriter
Joe is an R&B singer with over two decades of experience who has released five critically-acclaimed and commercially successful albums since their initial release. Additionally, he is an accomplished songwriter having written songs for Mariah Carey among others and boasting an eclectic style that mixes old school vibes with contemporary production techniques – this live album showcases Joe’s incredible talents to full effect and will impress fans of his work alike!
As the son of preachers, music played an integral part of Joe’s early life. From singing and playing guitar to leading choir rehearsals at his parents’ church in Opelika, Alabama – music had always been at the core of Joe’s being. Influences included Commission, the Winans and Vanessa Bell Armstrong as well as soul legends Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as well as R&B stars such as Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat which helped shape his sound over time.
As soon as he graduated high school, Joe set about pursuing a musical career while working various temporary jobs to make ends meet. He eventually settled in New Jersey where he met producer Vincent Herbert and recorded three songs for demo tape release by Polygram/Mercury before debuting his first album Everything with them in 1993 to only modest success and ultimately no long-term recording contract being secured by them.
Joe assembled an array of high-profile musicians for his fifth album, And Then…, in 2003.
Tim & Bob, The Underdogs, Cool & Dre, Bryan-Michael Cox and other producers collaborated on its production. “More & More”, its lead single, became one of the top 20 R&B hits in the US; double A-side “Ride Wit U”, featuring G-Unit members as collaborators, peaked at number 40 in Australia’s top 40 charts; while overall its moderate success peaked at 26th on Billboard 200 chart.
After taking a brief hiatus from recording music, Joe Thomas returned in 2008 with his seventh studio album – Joe Thomas, New Man. It marked the first album since ending his partnership with label executive Kedar Massenburg’s company and featured production by Brian Wilson, Stereotypes and D’Mile.
He is a producer
Joseph Lewis Thomas, better known by his stage name Joe, has graced the music industry with an effortless sound. His signature blend of R&B melodies with jazz influences creates sparks of emotional electricity in audiences worldwide and his new live album should not be missed!
Born and raised in Cuthbert, Georgia, he started his musical journey as the son of two preachers. Spending much of his time singing, playing guitar and leading choir rehearsals at his parents’ Pentecostal church was where his musical journey truly began. Influences included gospel greats Commission, The Winans & Clark Sisters as well as soul legends Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye who inspired his pursuit of a career in music industry in New Jersey. His passion led him there.
Joe debuted with his single, “All the Things Your Man Won’t Do”, before going on to record and release his debut full-length album Everything in 1992. This successful release cemented Joe as one of R&B music’s premier singers, writers and producers.
Within one year of his debut release, Joe released the song “I Wanna Know,” featured on the movie The Wood and which became an instantaneous US hit. Joe’s next release – 1997’s Booty Call – further cemented his place as an elegant and romantic singer unlike other performers who used overt sexual references in their lyrics.
In 2010, Joe collaborated with Keith Sweat on “Test Drive,” written for Sweat’s album Ridin’ Solo. Joe released his ninth studio album The Good, Bad & Sexy in October 2011; it debuted at number eight on Billboard 200 chart. Subsequently in July 2013 after dissolution of Kedar Entertainment record label came Doubleback: Evolution of R&B which marked beginning his partnership with Massenburg Media.
His first album, My Name Is Joe, featured collaborations with Fantasia and Fat Joe as well as showcased his ability to pen hits for multiple genres. In November 2016, My Name Is Joe was released; featuring collaborations between R&B superstar Fantasia and hip hop artist Fat Joe as well as signature ballads featuring Joe’s unique sound.
He is a live performer
Joe is an accomplished singer-songwriter renowned for his smooth yet soulful voice that ignites emotion with each note he sings. Drawing his influence from both gospel music and contemporary R&B artists like Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat, Joe was raised in Opelika Alabama where he started singing and playing guitar at an early age, before performing with local bands and leading a gospel choir before moving to New Jersey for further musical study while working temporary jobs.
Joe signed with PolyGram Records in 1992, and released his debut album Everything the following year, produced by him alongside Keith Mille, J. Dibbs, and Dave “Jam” Hall. Joe’s first album, All That I Am, released in 1995 was an unexpected commercial success, reaching number 105 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number 16 in Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums rankings. Joe released his sophomore effort All That I Am two years later in 1997 and saw significant commercial success. “All the Things Your Man Won’t Do” from this album’s lead single was featured on the soundtrack for Wayans Brothers film Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood and reached number 13 on US Billboard Hot 100 chart; Canada placed second; it also peaked within top ten in Australia, Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany, Ireland Switzerland and The Netherlands.
After leaving Jive Records, Joe released his seventh album New Man independently on Kedar Massenburg’s record label in September 2008. This album included Mariah Carey’s collaboration “Thank God I Found You”, from her Rainbow album; this single became one of his first top ten singles on Billboard Hot 100 charts in America.
#MYNAMEISJOETHOMAS is Joe’s debut live album that showcases his abilities as an entertainer onstage. It includes many of his signature hits as well as songs created specifically for this project; its soulful ballads and upbeat beats offer something for every music enthusiast and Joe Thomas fans should make this an essential purchase!