JOE

Joe Lewis Thomas (born on July 5, 1973 in Columbus, Georgia), is an American R&B singer and record producer. He is usually credited simply as Joe.

Joe Thomas was born the son of two preachers. The Thomas family moved to Opelika, Alabama when he was two and he grew up as an active member of the church including singing in the choir, playing guitar and eventually directing the choir.

In the late 1980s, he started playing in local bands in Alabama after his graduation from high school. He travelled to New York City to pursue a musical career. While working in a gospel music store and singing in the church, Joe met producer Vincent Herbert and recorded a three-track demo tape.

Career 1990s Having signed with Polygram Records, Joe released his debut album Everything in 1993. Everything reached a peak of #105 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #16 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. It spawned a number of hit singles, including the #10 R&B hit "I'm in Luv","All or Nothing", and "The One for Me". Joe also had a track on the soundtrack to the film Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood]]. Joe was also featured in the song "You Will Know" which was on the soundtrack of the 1996 movie Jason's Lyric.

Joe signed to Jive Records for his 1997 album, All That I Am. This proved to be his breakthrough album, reaching #13 on the Billboard 200 album charts and number 4 on the r&b charts. The hit singles from this album included the Top 5 R&B/Top 20 pop hit "All the Things Your Man Won't Do", the Top 5 R&B/Top 40 pop hit "Don't Wanna Be a Player", produced by Rodney Jerkins, and "The Love Scene". "Don't Wanna Be a Player", produced by Rodney Jerkins, was also featured on the Booty Call soundtrack, helping its success. All That I Am eventually went platinum in the US. Joe remixed a duet by Barry White and Tina Turner called "Never in Your Dreams" and wrote and produced debut albums by Ideal band Ideal and Déjà Groove in the late 1990s. Joe also sang on the remix of Big Punisher's "Still Not a Player", which interpolated Joe's "Don't Wanna Be a Player".

Joe appeared on the track Thank God I Found You with Mariah Carey which appeared on her Rainbow Mariah Carey album Rainbow album. This song was released as the second single and came a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. This track also became a hit internationally, helping to raise Joe's profile in other parts of the world.

2000s-2001 Joe released his third album My Name is Joe in 2000 which became his most successful album, reaching the top of the R&B album charts and #2 on the Billboard 200, eventually selling more than three million copies. This album was also his first to make an impression outside the US. It featured the Top 5 R&B and pop hit lead single "I Wanna Know", which also reached the top 40 in the United Kingdom|UK and Australia. The second single released was "Treat Her Like A Lady", which enjoyed moderate success. The third single, the Teddy Riley (new jack swing)|Teddy Rille-produced "Stutter", was #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks chart, and part of the Top 10 in the UK and top 20 in Australia. Mystikal appeared on the remix of the single, which sampled The Pharcyde's 1992 hit "Passin' Me By".

The Better Days album was released in 2001, reaching #32 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the r&b chart. It featured two singles, "Lets Stay Home Tonight", which reached #18 on the US R&B chart, and "What If A Woman".

In 2002, Joe did another collaboration with Mariah Carey, which Joe join the vocals from Kelly Price and Mariah Carey which is the remix of the first single Through The Rain from Carey's album Charmbracelet.

Joe recruited high profile guests for the And Then ... album released in late 2003. R. Kelly wrote the track "More and More" which was suppose to be on his Loveland album. G-Unit features on "Ride Wit U" (The singer returned the favour to the G-Unit by appearing on their first album). The singles from the And Then ... album included the Top 20 R&B hit "More and More", "Ride Wit You", and "Priceless". Aa double a/sided single "More and More" and "Ride Wit You" made the Australian top 40 in July 2004. And Then ... reached #26 on the US album charts and #4 on the R&B charts.

Joe's new album, Ain't Nothin' Like Me, is produced by Tim & Bob, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The Underdogs, Cool & Dre, Timbaland, Bryan Michael Cox,the SMITH BROS aka the BEATSMITHz, and Sean Garrett. The album will feature guest appearances by Nas, Fabolous, Chamillionaire, Papoose, Young Buck and Tony Yayo. The album is to be released on 24th April 2007 according to Joe's official website. For further release information check out Jive Records webpage. The first single will be "Where You At", written by Sean Garrett and produced by Tim & Bob featuring rapper Papoose. The video for the single has already been shot by music video director Billie Woodruff. The video for "If I Was Your Man", Joe's second single, has been shot and premiered across the internet and television.

Discography

Albums
Everything (1993) #105 US
All That I Am (1997) #13 US (Platinum)
My Name Is Joe (2000) #2 US (3x Platinum)
Better Days (2001) #32 US (Gold)
And Then ... (2003) #26 US (Gold)
Ain't Nothin' Like Me [1] (2007) #2 US

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