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Carla Thomas

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Carla Venita Thomas (born December 21, 1942)<ref name="Larkin"/> is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is best known for her 1960s recordings for Atlantic and Stax including the hits "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" (1960), "B-A-B-Y" (1966) and "Tramp" (1967), a duet with Otis Redding. She is the daughter of Rufus Thomas.

BiographyEdit

ChildhoodEdit

Thomas was born and raised in the Foote Homes Projects in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref> Along with her siblings, Marvell and Vaneese, she was one of three musical children of Rufus and Lorene Thomas. Despite growing up in the projects, the Thomas family lived near the Palace Theater on Beale Street, as Rufus was the theater's Master of Ceremonies (MC) for their amateur shows.<ref name=name>Freeland, David. "Carla Thomas – Memphis's Reluctant Soul Queen". Ladies of Soul. University Press of Mississippi, 2001. pp. 56–75.</ref> This access not only gave Thomas her first taste of the music world but it also provided a springboard for her transformation into the Queen of the Memphis Sound.Template:Citation needed

Teen Town SingersEdit

In Memphis, the African-American-centered WDIA radio station sponsored a rotating musical group of high school students called the Teen Town Singers; notable alumni include Anita Louis and Isaac Hayes. Although the requirements to join the Teen Town Singers stated that the person should be of high school age, Thomas became a member in 1952 at the age of 10. She was able to sneak into their ranks thanks to the fact that her father Rufus was an on-air personality for the radio station. This opportunity with the Teen Town Singers did not come without its drawbacks though.Template:Citation needed

As a 10-year-old student, Thomas was responsible for not only attending classes and completing her schoolwork, but she also had to attend rehearsals on Wednesdays and Fridays after school and then perform at the station on Saturday.<ref name=name/> Despite the grueling schedule, she enjoyed the experience: "It was a lot of fun, it really was." She remained with the Teen Town Singers until the end of her senior year.<ref name=name/>

1960sEdit

File:Carla Thomas.png
Carla Thomas in 1966

Thomas is best known for the work she completed for both Atlantic Records and most notably, Stax Records in the 1960s. Her first record, "'Cause I Love You" (1960), was a duet with her father, with brother Marvell on keyboards, that was released by Satellite Records, which eventually became Stax Records.<ref name="Larkin"/> Recorded when Thomas was still attending Hamilton High School in Memphis, the record drew enough local attention to catch the interest of Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records.Template:Citation needed

He signed a deal with the owners of Satellite Records, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, to distribute "Cause I Love You" and thus paved the way for Thomas’ most famous single, "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)",<ref name="Larkin"/> reaching number 10 on the pop chart and number 5 on the R&B chart. While she continued to have success on the R&B charts throughout the 1960s, her only other solo top 40 pop hit was "B-A-B-Y", reaching number 14 in 1966. Her duet, "Tramp", with Otis Redding reached number 26 on the pop chart the following year.and her album of duets with Otis Redding, King & Queen, was a number 18 hit in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref>

"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)"Edit

Although this single would eventually chart within the Top 10 on the pop chart and within the top 5 on the R&B chart, it had an inauspicious beginning. Initially recorded at the Thomas family home, Rufus shopped the song to Vee-Jay Records in Chicago. Vee-Jay never followed through or actively pursued securing the distribution rights. Because of his belief in the song's potential, Rufus returned to Memphis and in the summer of 1960, Thomas would cut the teen love song that she wrote when she was only 15 years old.<ref name=web/> The song was released by Rufus and Carla in October 1960, to not much fanfare.<ref name=name/> By February 1961, thanks to a distribution deal between Satellite and Atlantic Records, the song was being distributed nationally through Atlantic just as Thomas was in the midst of her first year at Tennessee A&I University in Nashville. The success of the single also propelled Thomas into the spotlight, as she performed on American Bandstand.<ref name=web/> According to Thomas, "The record was young-sounding, romantic and it expressed what a lot of people wanted to say at that age, but still, I was surprised at how well it did".<ref name=web>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Not only did this song provide a launching pad for Thomas' first album, but it also gave Stax Records national exposure and label recognition.Template:Citation needed

1970s–presentEdit

After her last Stax recording in 1971, Love Means..., and an appearance in Wattstax in 1972, Thomas slipped into relative obscurity when compared to her 1960s musical heyday. She featured in a number of modern-day projects, including a 1994 compilation of her greatest hits, a 2002 live recording of a Memphis performance and the 2007 release Live at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington, D.C., a long lost live recording of Thomas in 1967. She would also occasionally tour during the 1980s and became heavily involved in the “Artists in the Schools” program that provided Memphis schoolchildren with access to successful artists. These workshops were organized to talk to teenagers about music, performing arts and drug abuse.<ref>Puterbaugh, Parke. "Where Are They Now – Carla Thomas." Rolling Stone Aug. 10, 1989: 55.</ref> In 1991, she appeared with her father at the Porretta Terme Soul Festival.<ref name="Larkin"/> In 1993, Thomas was awarded the prestigious Pioneer Award, along with such musical heavyweights as James Brown and Solomon Burke, from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in honor of her career achievements.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was also featured in the 2003 documentary Only the Strong Survive, that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and showcased important Stax recording artists.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, Thomas featured on Valerie June's single "Call Me a Fool", which received a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Song.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ArtistryEdit

InfluencesEdit

Carla's biggest influence was her father, Rufus. Besides accompanying him during his 'MC' days at the Palace Theater, Rufus also encouraged and believed in his daughter's ability. According to Carla, “My dad probably discovered I could sing before I did”.<ref name=web/> He was also instrumental in setting the stage for her Teen Town Singers gig and for actively pursuing and promoting her breakthrough single, "Gee Whiz".Template:Citation needed

Musically, Thomas was inspired by Jackie Wilson and Brenda Lee.<ref name=name/>

Awards and nominationsEdit

Grammy AwardsEdit

Template:Awards table !! Ref. |- |rowspan="2" align="center"| 1968 | "The Queen Alone" | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Template:Nom | |}

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

Year Album Peak chart positions Label
US
<ref name="Awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation 		CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

US R&B
<ref name="Awards"/> 		UK R&B
<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1961 Gee Whiz — — — Atlantic
1965 Comfort Me 134 11 — Stax
1966 Carla 130 7 7
1967 The Queen Alone 133 16 —
1969 Memphis Queen 151 26 —
1971 Love Means... — 42 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albumsEdit

  • 2002: Live in Memphis (Memphis International)
  • 2007: Live at the Bohemian Caverns (Stax/Concord) recorded live May 27, 1967 in Washington, D.C.

CollaborationsEdit

CompilationsEdit

  • 1969: The Best of Carla Thomas (Stax) – US #190
  • 1994: Gee Whiz: The Best of Carla Thomas (Rhino)
  • 2004: Hidden Gems (Stax) previously unissued material recorded between 1960 and 1968

SinglesEdit

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
<ref name="Hot 100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 		US
R&B
/HH
<ref name="R&B Songs">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 		UK
<ref name="UK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation 		CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

UK R&B
<ref name="UK R&B">

</ref>

"Cause I Love You"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		1960 — — — — Template:N/A
"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" 10 5 — — Gee Whiz
"A Love of My Own" 1961 56 20 — —
"I Didn't Believe"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		— — — — rowspan="13" Template:N/A
"(Mama, Mama) Wish Me Good Luck" — — — —
"I Kinda Think He Does" — — — —
"I'll Bring It Home to You" 1962 41 9 — —
"What a Fool I've Been" 1963 93 28 — —
"Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" — — — —
A-side:
"That's Really Some Good"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		1964 92 30
Template:Efn 		— —
B-side:
"Night Time Is the Right Time"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		94 —
Template:Efn 		— —
"I've Got No Time to Lose" 67 13
Template:Efn 		— 9
"A Woman's Love" 71 29
Template:Efn 		— —
"How Do You Quit (Someone You Love)" 1965 — 39 — —
"Stop! Look What You're Doin'" 92 30 — —
"When You Move You Lose"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		— — — —
"Comfort Me" — — — — Comfort Me
"Birds & Bees"
(with Rufus Thomas) 		1966 — — — — Template:N/A
"Let Me Be Good to You" 62 11 — — Carla
"B-A-B-Y" 14 3 — —
  • RIAA: Gold<ref name="RIAA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
 CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" — — — — Template:N/A
"Something Good (Is Going to Happen to You)" 1967 74 29 — — The Queen Alone
"When Tomorrow Comes" 99 — —
"Tramp"
(with Otis Redding) 		26 2 18 1 King & Queen
"I'll Always Have Faith in You" 85 11 — — The Queen Alone
"Knock on Wood"
(with Otis Redding) 		30 8 35 8 King & Queen
"Pick Up the Pieces" 68 16 — 15 Template:N/A
"Lovey Dovey"
(with Otis Redding) 		1968 60 21 — 17 King & Queen
"A Dime a Dozen" 114 — — — Template:N/A
"Where Do I Go?" 86 38 — — Memphis Queen
"I've Fallen in Love" 1969 117 36 — —
"I Like What You're Doing to Me" 49 9 — —
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"
(with Otis Redding) 		109 — — — King & Queen
"Just Keep On Loving Me"
(with Johnnie Taylor) 		115 — — — rowspan="2" Template:N/A
"I Need You Woman"
(with Johnnie Taylor) 		106 — — —
"Guide Me Well" 1970 107 41 — — Memphis Queen
"Live in the City" — — — — rowspan="6" Template:N/A
"I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life" 1971 — — — —
"You've Got a Cushion to Fall On" 1972 — 49 — —
"Sugar" — — — —
"I May Not Be All You Want (But I'm All You Got)" 1973 — — — —
"Love Among the People" 1974 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artistEdit

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
"Call Me a Fool"
Template:Small 		2021 24 The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers

See alsoEdit

NotesEdit

Template:Notelist-ua

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project

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