Irma Thomas - Songs

ABOUT

Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941) is a highly acclaimed and veteran R&B/soul singer and songwriter dubbed the "Soul Queen of New Orleans" who became famous during the mid 1960s. Born Irma Lee in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, she sang in her church choir and, by her late teens, was performing with bandleader Tommy Ridgley who helped her land a contract with Ron Records. She then went on to record for Minit Records and worked with famed producer, songwriter, and New Orleans R&B icon, Allen Toussaint, who penned many of her best known songs.

Thomas made her debut in 1960 on both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts with "Don't Mess With My Man," which became an R&B Top 40 hit. This success was followed by the Toussaint-penned/produced "It's Raining" (1962), one of a number of signature songs that, along with "I Done Got Over It" (1962) and "Ruler Of My Heart" (1963), have amassed Thomas a loyal fan base over the years. Her fame took off in 1964 with the self-penned "Wish Someone Would Care," which reached #17 on both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts, followed later that year by "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," "Times Have Changed," and "He's My Guy," which also became top hits. Thomas also had minor hits with the original version of "Time Is On My Side" (1964), later made famous by The Rolling Stones, "Take A Look" (1965), and the James Brown-produced "It's A Man's - Woman's World - Part I" (1966) featuring a chorus singing "when a man loves a woman" and sweetly-spoken passages by Thomas. Her final hit came in 1968 on the R&B charts with her rendition of the Otis Redding-penned "Good To Me."

Since her commercial peak in the 1960s, Irma Thomas has continued to perform and record actively to the present, making annual appearances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Her 2006 album, "After The Rain," earned her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album the following year. Her 1964 hit, "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," had a resurgence in popularity after being featured in numerous episodes of the sci-fi TV series, "Black Mirror."

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MERCHANDISE

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SONGS

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Irma Thomas

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