Tasha Thomas

Tasha Thomas
Background information
Born c. 1945
United States[1]
Died November 8, 1984
Genres Blues, R&B, soul, jazz, disco
Labels Orbit Records, Atlantic Records, Buddha Records, Roulette Records

Tasha Thomas (c. 1945 – November 8, 1984)[1] was an American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of The Wiz. Thomas also had a hit single, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)," from her 1979 album, Midnight Rendezvous. Her birthplace is often cited as "Jeutyn, Alaska," though no such town exists.

Music career

Thomas' breakthrough came when she was cast in the original Broadway production of The Wiz in the role of Aunt Em. Her performance on the cast album, singing her soulful rendition of the ballad “The Feeling We Once Had,” earned her wide critical acclaim. In 1972 Tasha sang backup vocals along with singer/songwriter & Song Writers Hall Of Fameer Ellie Greenwich (1949-2009) for Jim Croce's debut album You Don't Mess Around With Jim. She appears on Slade's 1976 'Nobody's Fools' LP providing backing vocals on several songs including the title track. Tasha also provided backup vocals on the 1977 Kiss album "Love Gun", as one of the "KISSettes".

In 1978, on the basis of her growing popularity as a singer capable of performing in many different styles and genres, producers James R. Glaser (aka Jimmi Hood) and Peter Rugile signed Thomas to their company, Orbit Record Productions. Her first record release on the producer’s independent label, Orbit Records, was the international dance smash “Shoot Me (With Your Love),” written by James R. Glaser. Unable to keep pace with the demand for the record, producers Glaser/Rugile took Thomas and their production company to Atlantic Records to complete Thomas’s first solo album Midnight Rendezvous.

Recorded in 1979, Midnight Rendezvous included the track, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", which was the biggest hit from the album. The New York Times music critic Robert Palmer, described the song as "…one of the grittiest and most rousing disco records of the year destined to become a classic of erotic dance music."[2]

Television appearances

Following the success of "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", Thomas was frequently invited to guest star on television music and talk shows, including appearances on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert, Soul Train (Season 8, Episode 32 - Air Date: 03/24/79),[3] The Merv Griffin Show, (Season 11, Episode 2395) Burt Sugarman’s Midnight Special (Season 7, Episode 25 - Air Date: 05/04/79) and Dance Fever (May 1979).[3]

Death

Thomas died of cancer in 1984, at the age of 39 .[1]

Awards

"Shoot Me (With Your Love)" was nominated for “Best R&B Single of the Year” at the 1979 BMA Awards.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed February 2011
  2. ↑ Robert Palmer, The New York Times, June 21, 1979
  3. 1 2 TV.com
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 557. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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