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{{Short description|American R&B singer (1944–2022)}}
{{other uses|Tim Thomas (disambiguation)}}
{{other uses|Tim Thomas (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> |
| image = Timmy Thomas (cropped).jpg<!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->|
|image_size =
| image_size =
| name = Timmy Thomas
| name = Timmy Thomas
| caption =
| caption = Thomas at [[South by Southwest|SXSW]] 2016
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Timothy E. Thomas
| birth_name = Timothy Earle Thomas
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|11|13|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|11|13|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Evansville, Indiana]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Evansville, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|11|1944|11|13}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|11|1944|11|13}}
| death_place =
| death_place = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S.
| genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]}}
| instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[Organ (music)|organ]], vocals
| instrument = {{hlist|[[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]]|[[Organ (music)|organ]]|vocals}}
| occupation = Singer, [[songwriter]], musician, [[record producer]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|record producer}}
| years_active = Early 1960s&ndash;1990s
| years_active = Early 1960s&ndash;1990s
| label = [[TK Records|Glades]], [[Marlin Records|Marlin]], [[Gold Mountain Records|Gold Mountain]]
| label = {{hlist|[[TK Records|Glades]]|[[Marlin Records|Marlin]]|[[Gold Mountain Records|Gold Mountain]]}}
| associated_acts =
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Timothy E. Thomas''' (November 13, 1944 – March 11, 2022) was an American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer, [[keyboardist]], songwriter and record producer, best known for the [[hit single|hit]] song, "[[Why Can't We Live Together]]".<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=271}}</ref>
'''Timothy Earle Thomas''' (November 13, 1944 – March 11, 2022) was an American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer, [[keyboardist]], songwriter, and record producer, best known for the [[hit single|hit]] song, "[[Why Can't We Live Together]]".<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=271}}</ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Thomas was born in [[Evansville, Indiana]] on November 13, 1944.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book| first= Joseph| last= Murrells| year= 1978| title= The Book of Golden Discs| edition= 2nd| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd| location= London| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/322 322]| isbn= 0-214-20512-6| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/322}}</ref> He first attracted interest in his work as an [[accompanist]] with [[Donald Byrd]] and [[Cannonball Adderley]], before working as a [[session musician]]<ref name="LarkinSM"/> in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], and releasing [[single (music)|singles]] on the [[Goldwax Records]] [[record label|label]]. He had little [[solo (music)|solo]] success until he moved to [[TK Records|Glades Records]] in [[Miami]], [[Florida]], and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together".<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The [[gramophone record|record]] topped the U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]], made the top three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> where it peaked at number 12 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> This [[gramophone record|disc]] sold over two million copies.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/>
Thomas was born in [[Evansville, Indiana]], on November 13, 1944,<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/322 322]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/322}}</ref> one of twelve siblings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Rose|date=2022-03-14|title=R&B legend Timmy Thomas, whose song was sampled by Drake for Hotline Bling, dies|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-timmy-thomas-dead-rb-26465651|access-date=2022-03-15|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|language=en}}</ref> He first attracted interest in his work as an [[accompanist]] with [[Donald Byrd]] and [[Cannonball Adderley]], before working as a [[session musician]]<ref name="LarkinSM"/> in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], and releasing [[single (music)|singles]] on the [[Goldwax Records]] [[record label|label]]. He had little [[solo (music)|solo]] success until he moved to [[TK Records|Glades Records]] in [[Miami]], [[Florida]], and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together".<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The [[gramophone record|record]] topped the U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[record chart|chart]], made the top three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> where it peaked at number 12 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> This [[gramophone record|disc]] sold over two million copies.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/>


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).{{CN}} He then became a session musician in Memphis, continuing to release solo sides for Goldwax, including "Have Some Boogaloo".{{CN}} 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".{{CN}} 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".{{CN}}
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|date=March 2022}} He then became a session musician in Memphis, continuing to release solo sides for Goldwax, including "Have Some Boogaloo".{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} 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|date=March 2022}} 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".<ref name="Galloway">{{Cite AV media notes|first=A. Scott|last=Galloway|title=Timmy Thomas - Why Can't We Live Together|publisher=Collectables Records|date=1993|id=COL-CD-5433|location=Narberth, PA|URL=https://www.discogs.com/release/2634953-Timmy-Thomas-Why-Cant-We-Live-Together/image/SW1hZ2U6MTgzNjUwOTE=}}</ref>


Thomas followed up the release with "People Are Changin'" (B-side "Rainbow Power") which reached the charts in 1973. In 1974, he released the album ''[[You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing]]''.{{CN}} He went on to release six further Glades singles and then, in 1975 recorded a duet with [[Betty Wright]] entitled "It's What They Can't See".{{CN}} 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 albums ''[[The Magician (album)|The Magician]]'' (Glades, 1976) and ''[[Touch to Touch]]'' (Glades, 1977).{{CN}} He also continued to work on sessions for [[TK Records]] [[recording artist|artist]]s, including [[Gwen McCrae]], and in later years as a producer.{{CN}}
Thomas followed up the release with "People Are Changin'" (B-side "Rainbow Power") which reached the charts in 1973. In 1974, he released the album ''[[You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} He went on to release six further Glades singles and then, in 1975 recorded a duet with [[Betty Wright]] entitled "It's What They Can't See".{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} 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 albums ''[[The Magician (album)|The Magician]]'' (Glades, 1976) and ''[[Touch to Touch]]'' (Glades, 1977).{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} He also continued to work on sessions for [[TK Records]] [[recording artist|artist]]s, including [[Gwen McCrae]], and in later years as a producer.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=Steven|title=Artist Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/timmy-thomas-mn0000603195/biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=28 May 2022}}</ref>


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.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> Thomas appeared on [[Nicole McCloud]]'s 1985 album ''What About Me?'', singing on a duet with her called "New York Eyes". This track reached number 41 in the UK.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 557}}</ref>
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.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> Thomas appeared on [[Nicole McCloud]]'s 1985 album ''What About Me?'', singing on a duet with her called "New York Eyes". This track reached number 41 in the UK.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=557}}</ref>


In the 1990s, he worked as a producer for LaFace Records and released the album ''With Heart and Soul'' for DTM Records. Also, his song "(Dying Inside) To Hold You" was a massive hit in the Philippines, and gained further popularity in 2017 when it was covered by [[Darren Espanto]] for the film ''[[All of You (film)|All of You]]''.{{CN}}
In the 1990s, he worked as a producer for [[LaFace Records]] and released the album ''With Heart and Soul'' for 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 by [[Darren Espanto]] for the film ''[[All of You (2017 film)|All of You]]''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}


In 2015, [[Drake (rapper)|Drake]] sampled Thomas' signature hit, "Why Can't We Live Together", on his single "[[Hotline Bling]]".{{CN}}
In 2015, [[Drake (rapper)|Drake]] sampled Thomas' signature hit, "Why Can't We Live Together", on his single "[[Hotline Bling]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Almeida|first=Celia|date=February 14, 2018|title=After Drake Sampled Timmy Thomas' Song on "Hotline Bling," the Soul Singer Is on a Mission to Meet the Rapper|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/after-drake-sampled-his-song-on-hotline-bling-timmy-thomas-is-on-a-mission-to-meet-the-rapper-10080890|access-date=2022-03-14|work=[[Miami New Times]]|language=en}}</ref>


Thomas died on March 11, 2022, at the age of 77.<ref>[https://www.soultracks.com/story-timmy-thomas-dies ""Why Can't We Live Together" singer Timmy Thomas dies at 77", ''Soul Tracks'', March 12, 2022]. Retrieved March 12, 2022</ref>
Thomas died of cancer on March 11, 2022, at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite news|title=Timmy Thomas, Singer Whose Biggest Hit Was an Antiwar Anthem, Dies at 77|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/arts/music/timmy-thomas-dead.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=March 15, 2022|access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soultracks.com/story-timmy-thomas-dies|title="Why Can't We Live Together" singer Timmy Thomas dies at 77|website=Soul Tracks|date=March 12, 2022|accessdate=March 12, 2022}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{refimprove|section}}
===Albums===
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable"
*''[[Why Can't We Live Together (album)|Why Can't We Live Together]]'' (1972)
|-
*''[[You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing]]'' (1974)
! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year
*''[[The Magician (album)|The Magician]]'' (1976)
! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album
*''[[Touch to Touch]]'' (1977)
! scope="col" colspan="2"|Peak chart positions
*''Live'' (1979)
|- style="font-size:small;"
*''Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)'' (1984)
! style="width:40px;"|[[Billboard 200|US Pop]]<br><ref name="Awards">{{cite web|title=Timmy Thomas - Awards|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/timmy-thomas-mn0000603195/awards|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113052541/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/timmy-thomas-mn0000603195/awards|archive-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref>
*''With Heart and Soul'' (1994)
! style="width:40px;"|[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]]<br><ref name="Awards"/>
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Why Can't We Live Together (album)|Why Can't We Live Together]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/why-cant-we-live-together-mw0000105338|language=en|access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref>
| align=center | 53
| align=center | 10
|-
| 1974
| ''[[You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing]]''<ref name="Burgess">{{Cite AV media notes|first=Greg|last=Burgess|title=Timmy Thomas - You're The Song (I've Always Wanted To Sing)|publisher=EMI Records|date=2004|URL=https://www.discogs.com/release/1484818-Timmy-Thomas-Youre-The-Song-Ive-Always-Wanted-To-Sing/image/SW1hZ2U6NTIwMDEyNDQ=}}</ref>
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| 1976
| ''[[The Magician (album)|The Magician]]''<ref name="Burgess"/>
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Touch to Touch]]''<ref name="Burgess"/>
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| 1979
| ''Live''<ref name="Burgess"/>
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| 1984
| ''Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)''<ref name="Burgess"/>
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| 1994
| ''With Heart and Soul''
| align=center | —
| align=center | —
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}


===Singles===
===Singles===
*"Why Can't We Live Together?" / "Funky Me" (1972)
*"People Are Changin'" / "Rainbow Power" (1973)
*"Let Me Be Your Eyes" / "Cold Cold People" (1973)
*"What Can I Tell Her" / "Opportunity" (1973)
*"One Brief Moment" / "Rio Girl" (1974)
*"Deep in You" / "Spread Us Around" (1974)
*"You're the Song (I've Always Wanted to Sing)" / "I've Got to See You Tonight" (1974)
*"Sexy Woman" / "Sweet Brown Sugar" (1975)
*"Ebony Affair" / "It's What They Can't See" (1975)
*"Love Shine" / "Runnin' Out of Time" (1976)
*"The Magician" (1976) [UK]
*"Stone to the Bone" / "Watch It! Watch It!"(1977)
*"Touch to Touch" / "When a House Got Music" (1977)
*"Freak In, Freak Out" / "Say Love, Can You Chase Away My Blues?" (1978)
*"Drown in My Own Tears - Part 1" / "Drown in My Own Tears - Part 2" (1978)
*"Why Can't We Live Together" (Live) / "Rainbow Power" (1979) [France] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Timmy-Thomas-Why-Cant-We-Live-Together-Funky-Me/master/93700|title = Timmy Thomas - Why Can't We Live Together}}</ref>
*"Are You Crazy???" (1981)
*"My Last Affair" (1982)
*"Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)" (1984)
*"New York Eyes" (<small>with [[Nicole McCloud]]</small>) / "Ordinary Girl" (1985)
*"(Dying Inside) To Hold You" (1990)
*"What Do You Say to a Lady" (<small>with [[Jackie Moore (singer)|Jackie Moore]]</small>) (1991)

====Charted singles====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="5"| Chart Positions
! colspan="6"| Chart positions
|- style="font-size:small;"
|- style="font-size:small;"
! width="40"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US Pop]]<ref>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/709 709]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/709}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US Pop]]<br/><ref>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/709 709]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/709}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br>R&B]]<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=443}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br/><ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|authorlink=Joel Whitburn|year=1996|publisher=Record Research|page=443}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]<br/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Chart History - Timmy Thomas: Dance Club Songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/timmy-thomas/chart-history/dsi/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=28 May 2022}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=308}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref name="betts">{{cite book| first= Graham| last= Betts| year=2004| title= Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004| edition= 1st|publisher= Collins| location= London| isbn= 0-00-717931-6| page=783}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br/><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=308}}</ref>
! width="40"| CAN ([[RPM (magazine)|RPM)]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5312.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 17, 1973}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br/><ref name="betts">{{cite book|first=Graham|last=Betts|year=2004|title=Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004|edition= 1st|publisher=Collins|location=London|isbn=0-00-717931-6|page=783}}</ref>
! width="40"| CAN ([[RPM (magazine)|RPM]])<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5312.pdf|title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 17, 1973|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111035316/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5312.pdf|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref>

|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1972
| rowspan="1"| 1972
Line 92: Line 106:
| 3
| 3
| 1
| 1
| —
| 25
| 25
| 12
| 12
Line 100: Line 115:
| 75
| 75
| 23
| 23
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| align="left"| "Let Me Be Your Eyes"
| align="left"| "Let Me Be Your Eyes"
| 107
| 107
| 48
| 48
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| align="left"| "What Can I Tell Her"
| align="left"| "What Can I Tell Her"
| 102
| 102
| 19
| 19
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1974
| rowspan="3"| 1974
| align="left"| "One Brief Moment"
| align="left"| "One Brief Moment"
| -
| —
| 62
| 62
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| align="left"| "I've Got to See You Tonight" /<br/>"You're the Song (I've Always Wanted to Sing)"
| align="left"| "I've Got to See You Tonight" /<br/>"You're the Song (I've Always Wanted to Sing)"
| -<br/>-
| —<br/>—
| 31<br/>78
| 31<br/>78
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1975
| align="left"| "Deep in You"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1975
| align="left"| "Sexy Woman"
| align="left"| "Sexy Woman"
| -
| —
| 69
| 69
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1977
| align="left"| "Ebony Affair"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1976
| align="left"| "Love Shine"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "The Magician" <small>(UK only)</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1977
| align="left"| "Stone to the Bone"
| align="left"| "Stone to the Bone"
| -
| —
| 74
| 74
| -
| 12
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "Touch to Touch"
| —
| —
| 32
| —
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1978
| rowspan="1"| 1978
| align="left"| "Freak In, Freak Out"
| align="left"| "Freak In, Freak Out"
| -
| —
| 92
| 92
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1980
| align="left"| "Drown in My Own Tears"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1981
| rowspan="1"| 1981
| align="left"| "Are You Crazy??? (Pt. 1)"
| align="left"| "Are You Crazy???" (Pt. 1)
| -
| —
| 73
| 73
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1982
| align="left"| "My Last Affair"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984
| rowspan="2"| 1984
Line 169: Line 252:
| 80
| 80
| 29
| 29
| -
| 28
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| align="left"| "Love Is Never Too Late"
| align="left"| "Love Is Never Too Late"
| -
| —
| 90
| 90
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1985
| rowspan="1"| 1985
| align="left"| "New York Eyes"<br/><small>[[Nicole McCloud|Nicole]] with Timmy Thomas</small>
| align="left"| "New York Eyes" <small>(with [[Nicole McCloud|Nicole]])</small>
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
| 41
| 41
| -
| —
|-
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1990
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| align="left"| "Why Can't We Live Together" (remix)
| align="left"| "Why Can't We Live Together" <small>(remix)</small>
| -
| —
| -
| —
| -
| —
| —
| 54
| 54
| -
| —
|-
| align="left"| "(Dying Inside) To Hold You"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="1"| 1991
| align="left"| "What Do You Say to a Lady" <small>(with [[Jackie Moore (singer)|Jackie Moore]])</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart]]
*[[R&B number-one hits of 1973 (USA)]]
*[[List of Hot Soul Singles number ones of 1973]]
*[[List of disco artists (S-Z)]]
*[[List of disco artists (S-Z)]]
*[[List of funk musicians]]
*[[List of funk musicians]]
Line 210: Line 315:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External Links==
==External links==
* {{discogs artist|Timmy Thomas}}
* {{discogs artist|Timmy Thomas}}
* {{imdb name|1601824}}
* {{IMDb name|1601824}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
Line 220: Line 325:
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American soul musicians]]
[[Category:American soul musicians]]

Latest revision as of 23:07, 16 August 2024

For other uses, see Tim Thomas (disambiguation).

Timmy Thomas
Thomas at SXSW 2016
Thomas at SXSW 2016
Background information
Birth nameTimothy Earle Thomas
Born(1944-11-13)November 13, 1944
Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
DiedMarch 11, 2022(2022-03-11) (aged 77)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
Instruments
Years activeEarly 1960s–1990s
Labels

Timothy Earle Thomas (November 13, 1944 – March 11, 2022) was an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".[1]

Life and career

[edit]

Thomas was born in Evansville, Indiana, on November 13, 1944,[2] one of twelve siblings.[3] He first attracted interest in his work as an accompanist with Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley, before working as a session musician[1] in Memphis, Tennessee, and releasing singles on the Goldwax Records label. He had little solo success until he moved to Glades Records in Miami, Florida, and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together".[1] The record topped the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, made the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom[2] where it peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] This disc sold 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 album You'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 with Betty Wright entitled "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 albums The Magician (Glades, 1976) and Touch to Touch (Glades, 1977).[citation needed] He also continued to work on sessions for TK Records artists, including Gwen 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 on Nicole McCloud's 1985 album What 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 for LaFace Records and released the album With Heart and Soul for 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 by Darren Espanto for the film All of You.[citation needed]

In 2015, Drake sampled 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

[edit]

Albums

[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" (with Nicole) — — — — 41 —
1990 "Why Can't We Live Together" (remix) — — — — 54 —
"(Dying Inside) To Hold You" — — — — — —
1991 "What Do You Say to a Lady" (with Jackie Moore) — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 271. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  2. ^ a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 322. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ Hill, Rose (March 14, 2022). "R&B legend Timmy Thomas, whose song was sampled by Drake for Hotline Bling, dies". Daily Mirror. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 557. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ Galloway, A. Scott (1993). Timmy Thomas - Why Can't We Live Together (Media notes). Narberth, PA: Collectables Records. COL-CD-5433.
  6. ^ McDonald, Steven. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  7. ^ 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. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Sandomir, Richard (March 15, 2022). "Timmy Thomas, Singer Whose Biggest Hit Was an Antiwar Anthem, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  9. ^ ""Why Can't We Live Together" singer Timmy Thomas dies at 77". Soul Tracks. March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Timmy Thomas - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e Burgess, Greg (2004). Timmy Thomas - You're The Song (I've Always Wanted To Sing) (Media notes). EMI Records.
  13. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 709. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  14. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 443.
  15. ^ "Chart History - Timmy Thomas: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 308. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. ^ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 783. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  18. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 17, 1973" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2012.
[edit]
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