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Joe Information
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'Joe Lewis Thomas' (born on July 5, 1973 in Columbus, Georgia), is a popular African-American R&B singer and record producer. He is ususally credited simply as 'Joe'.
Biography
Early life and career
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 to 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.
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.
Success
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 plantinum 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 and Deja 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 album. This song was released as the second single and became 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.
My Name Is Joe - 2000 onwards
Joe released his fourth 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 and eventually selling three million copies. This album was also his first to make an impression outside the US. It featured as its lead single the Top 5 R&B and pop hit "I Wanna Know", which also reached the top 40 in the UK and Australia. The follow-up single, the Teddy Riley-produced "Stutter", was #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and r&b charts, and Top 10 in the UK and top 20 in Australia. Mystikal appeared on the remix of the single, which sampled The Pharcyde's 1995 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 "Treat Her Like a Lady".
Joe recruited high profile guests for the And Then ... album released in late 2003. R. Kelly features on the track "More and More" while G-Unit features on "Ride Wit U". Joe has 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 has a new song titled "Get To Know Me" which features Nas, and also samples the song "You're Da Man" from Nas' "Stillmatic" album. The new record is produced By Tim And Bob (Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson of Sisqo Thong Song, Bobby Valentino Tell Me and Slow Down fame). It could potentially be the first single from Joe's upcoming album. Also a another song has been leaked called Just Relax which was produced by Cool and Dre. The song uses the beat from A Tribe Called Quest Electric Relaxtion. Heavyweight Producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and The Underdogs are rumored to work with Joe on his upcoming 6th album.
Discography
Albums
* Everything (1993)
* All That I Am (1997) (Platinum)
* My Name Is Joe (2000) (3x Platinum)
* Better Days (2001) (Gold)
* And Then ... (2003) (Gold)
Singles
* 1993: "I'm in Luv" (US #64, R&B #10)
* 1993: "All or Nothing"
* 1993:"The One for Me"
* 1996: "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" (US #11, R&B #2)
* 1996: "Don't Wanna Be a Player" (US #25, R&B #5)
* 1996: "The Love Scene"
* 1998: "Still Not a Player" (Big Pun featuring Joe)
* 1999: "Thank God I Found You" (Mariah Carey featuring Joe and 98 Degrees; (The "Make It Last Remix" features Nas in place of 98 Degrees) (US #1)
* 2000: "I Wanna Know" (US #4, R&B #2)
* 2001: "Stutter" (#1 US, #1 R&B, a remix features Mystikal)
* 2001: "Lets Stay Home Tonight" (R&B #18, a remix features Petey Pablo)
* "Treat Her Like a Lady" (US #63, R&B #15)
* 2003: "More and More" (US #48, R&B #15)
* 2003: "Ride Wit You" (US #56, R&B #22)
* 2004: "Priceless" (R&B #72)
* 2005: "Curious" (Tony Yayo featuring Joe)
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