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Biography
Joe Thomas |
Born Joe Thomas, in Brooklyn, NY.
Joe Thomas--just Joe to his fans--is a singer-songwriter for
whom "going to the movies" became a shrewd career strategy.
Despite not releasing an album for four years after his credible
1993 freshman effort Everything, he managed to keep his voice
in the minds and ears of R&B followers and maintain a presence
in the music industry by using the alternative of movie soundtrack
LPs to superb advantage. Joe was able to notch two Top 10 R&B
singles from the soundtracks of urban-oriented films during
his absence from the album charts--"All the Things (Your Man
Won't Do)" from Don't Be a Menace to South Central While You're
Drinking Your Juice in the 'Hood and "Don't Want to be a Player"
from Booty Call--ironically reinforcing his staying power and
hitmaking abilities until his 1997 followup LP, All That I Am,
could arrive. Joe's voice, melodic yet unremarkable, doesn't
seem to bring anything unique to the musical table at first
listen. But by crafting sumptuous ballads that celebrate monogamy
and romance at a time when many of his R&B contemporaries are
drooling over infidelity and sex, Joe has carved out a large
niche of admirers--mostly female--who will probably keep going
to the CD stores, or movie theaters, to advance his career.
smooth hip-hop flavored R&B, Everything (Mercury, 1993, prod.
Joe, J. Dibbs, Dave Hall) [Rating: 3.0] is an impressive debut
album. Both it and the followup, All That I Am (Mercury, 1997,
prod. Joe, J. Dibbs, Dave Hall) [Rating: 3.5] , endeavor to
explore the male-female relationship in all its facets through
textured vocals and lyrics sweeter than a box of bonbons; the
hit singles "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" and "Don't
Want to be a Player" are contained on the latter LP.
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