Irma Thomas
{{Short description|American soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel singer (born 1941)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Irma Thomas
|image = Irma Thomas WWOZ Oct 2011 A (cropped).JPG
|caption = Thomas in 2011
|image_size =
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Irma Lee
|alias = Soul Queen of New Orleans
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|2|18|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Ponchatoula, Louisiana, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|instrument = Vocals
|genre = {{hlist|New Orleans R&B|soul blues|gospel|pop}}
|occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
|years_active = 1959–present
|label = {{plainlist|
}}
|associated_acts =
|website =
}}
Irma Thomas ({{nee}} Lee; born February 18, 1941){{cite book |title=I Hear You Knockin : The Sound of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues |author=Jeff Hannusch |date=1985 |isbn=978-0961424503 |quotation="I was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, February 18, 1941" |publisher=Swallow Publications |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/ihearyouknockins00hann}} is an American singer from New Orleans.{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Du Noyer |year=2003 |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music |edition=1st |publisher=Flame Tree Publishing |location=Fulham, London |isbn=1-904041-96-5 |page=181}} She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans".{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p5638/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography: Irma Thomas |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 16, 2010}}
Thomas is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but never experienced their level of commercial success. In 2007, she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for After the Rain, her first Grammy in a career spanning over 50 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/irma-thomas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624200628/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/irma-thomas|archive-date=June 24, 2020|title=Irma Thomas |date=May 14, 2007 |website=Grammy.com |access-date=March 4, 2023}}
Life and career
Born Irma Lee, in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States,{{cite book |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |editor=Colin Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=Virgin Books |date=1997 |edition=Concise |isbn=1-85227-745-9 |page=1175}} she was the daughter of Percy Lee, a steel chipper, and Vader Lee, who worked as a maid.1950 United States Federal Census, New Orleans, Orleans County, Louisiana, E.D. Number 36-504, p. 43-44 As a teenager, she sang with a Baptist church choir. She auditioned for Specialty Records at the age of 13. By the time she was 19, she had been married twice and had four children. Keeping her second ex-husband's surname, she worked as a waitress in New Orleans, occasionally singing with bandleader Tommy Ridgley, who helped her land a record deal with the local Ron label. Her first single, "Don't Mess with My Man", was released in late 1959, and reached number 22 on the US Billboard R&B chart.
She then began recording on the Minit label, working with songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint on songs including "It's Raining" and "Ruler of My Heart", which was later reinterpreted by Otis Redding as "Pain in My Heart". Imperial Records acquired Minit in 1963, and a string of successful releases followed. These included "Wish Someone Would Care", her biggest national hit; its B-side "Breakaway", written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheely (later covered by Tracey Ullman, among others).
"Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" was co-written by a young Randy Newman and future country star Jeannie Seely. This song has gained renewed appreciation as a result of its inclusion in numerous episodes of the science fiction anthology television series Black Mirror, stretching back to the first season.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/black-mirror-anyone-who-knows-what-love-is-charlie-brooker/ |title=Here's Why You Hear That One Song Over and Over in 'Black Mirror' |date=February 11, 2018 |website=Thewrap.com |access-date=April 16, 2018}} On its B-side is "Time Is on My Side", a song previously recorded by Kai Winding and later by the Rolling Stones.
Her first four Imperial singles all charted on Billboard{{'}}s pop chart, but her later releases were less successful. Unlike her contemporaries Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick, she never managed to cross over into mainstream commercial success. She recorded for Chess Records in 1967–1968 with some success; her version of the Otis Redding song "Good to Me" reached the R&B chart. She then relocated to California, releasing records on various small labels, before returning to Louisiana, and in the early 1980s opened the Lion's Den Club.
Down by Law, the 1986 independent film by Jim Jarmusch featured "It's Raining" in the soundtrack.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090967/soundtrack |title=Down by Law (1986) : Soundtracks |website=IMDb.com |access-date=August 23, 2017}} The film's actors Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, whose characters fell in love in the movie, danced to the song.
After several years' break from recording, she was signed by Rounder Records, and in 1991 earned her first Grammy Award nomination for Live! Simply the Best, recorded in San Francisco.{{cite web |url=http://www.soulexpress.net/irmathomas.htm |title=Irma Thomas – Soul Express 4/1994 |website=Soulexpress.net |access-date=September 21, 2015}} She subsequently released a number of traditional gospel albums, together with more secular recordings. The album Sing It! (1998) was nominated for a Grammy in 1999.
Thomas was still active as a performer as of 2021, appearing annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (and was scheduled to appear at the iterations that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).{{cite web |url=http://lineup.nojazzfest.com/band/irma-thomas |title=The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival : Line-up : Irma osThomas |website=Lineup.nojazzfest.com |access-date=August 23, 2017}}{{cite web |publisher=Gambit |title=New Orleans Jazz Fest 2021: Here's the daily lineup and how to buy single-day tickets |author=Clapp, Jake |date=July 15, 2021 |url=https://www.nola.com/gambit/events/article_7108ea16-e57b-11eb-b234-8be196f6b65f.html |access-date=November 13, 2021}} She reigned as Queen of the Krewe du Vieux for the 1998 New Orleans Mardi Gras season.{{cite news |last=Lind |first=Angus |date=February 1, 1998 |title=The Passing Parade |work=Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |page=E1}} She often headlined at her own club, but it went out of business due to Hurricane Katrina, which caused her to relocate to Gonzales, Louisiana, {{convert|60|mi|km}} from New Orleans.{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Simon |url=https://www.npr.org/2006/07/01/5526014/a-visit-with-the-soul-queen-of-new-orleans|title=A Visit with the Soul Queen of New Orleans |newspaper=Weekend Edition Saturday (NPR) |date=July 1, 2006|type= audio, 17 min.; sings live excerpts of new CD After the Rain}} {{asof|April 2008}} she was back in her home in New Orleans.{{cite web|url=http://www.irmathomas.com/message.htmI| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417202755/http://www.irmathomas.com/message.htm|title=A message from Irma|website=IrmaThomas.com|archive-date=April 17, 2008}}
Image:Etown james and irma.jpg and others in 2008]]
Thomas is interviewed on screen and appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz.{{cite journal |author= |date=April 2005 |title=IAJE What's Going On |journal=Jazz Education Journal |location=Manhattan, Kansas |publisher=International Association of Jazz Educators |volume=37 |issue=5 |page=87 |issn=1540-2886 |id={{ProQuest|1370090}}}} In the film, she performed "Old Records" with Allen Toussaint.{{cite AV media |date=2005 |title=Make It Funky! |type=DVD |language=en |time= |location=Culver City, California |publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |id=11952 |isbn=9781404991583 |oclc=61207781}}
In April 2007, Thomas was honored for her contributions to Louisiana music with induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://louisianamusichalloffame.org/content/view/33/83/ |title=Louisiana Music Hall of Fame – IRMA THOMAS – 2007 |first=Mike |last=Shepherd |website=Louisianamusichalloffame.org |access-date=August 23, 2017}} Also in 2007, Thomas accepted an invitation to participate in Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino where, singing with Marcia Ball, she contributed "I Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind".{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/goin-home-a-tribute-to-fats-domino-mw0000750410 |title=Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic |website=AllMusic |access-date=August 22, 2017}} The same year she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for After the Rain.
In August 2009, a compilation album with three new songs titled The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary Celebration was released from Rounder Records to commemorate Thomas' 50th year as a recording artist.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-soul-queen-of-new-orleans-50th-anniversary-mw0000823798 |title=The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary – Irma Thomas – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic |website=AllMusic |access-date=August 22, 2017}}
Thomas was the subject of the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster. She was chosen as the subject before the painting was chosen for the poster. Artist Douglas Bourgeois painted the singer in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://blog.nola.com/dougmaccash/2008/03/the_best_jazzfest_poster_ever.html |title=Art critic calls 2008 Jazzfest poster 'the best ever' |website=Blog.nola.com |access-date=August 23, 2017 |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824012048/http://blog.nola.com/dougmaccash/2008/03/the_best_jazzfest_poster_ever.html |url-status=dead }} In 2010, Thomas rode in the New Orleans parade "Grela". In April that year, Thomas performed at the Corner Hotel, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
In 2011, Thomas performed twice at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/festival/byron-bay-bluesfest-2011/ |title=Byron Bay Bluesfest 2011 |date=December 1, 2010 |website=Consequence.net |access-date=August 23, 2017}} On April 24, she performed on the Crossroads stage, coming on after Mavis Staples; then on April 25, she headlined the Crossroads stage, coming on after Jethro Tull and Osibisa.
In 2013, Thomas was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the "Soul Blues Female Artist" category,{{cite web |url=https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees |title=Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards |website=Blues.org |access-date=March 21, 2013}} which she duly won.{{cite web |url=https://www.blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_pastyears |title=Blues Music Awards – Past Years |website=Blues.org |access-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026014126/https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_pastyears |archive-date=October 26, 2010 |url-status=dead}} She won the same award in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm |title=2014 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners |website=Blues.about.com |access-date=May 16, 2014 |archive-date=December 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222020203/http://blues.about.com/od/bluesawards/a/2014-Blues-Music-Awards.htm |url-status=dead }}
In 2018, Thomas received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the Americana Music Honors & Awards.{{cite web |title=AMA Awards |url=http://americanamusic.org/recipient-archive |access-date=December 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018055116/http://americanamusic.org/recipient-archive |archive-date=October 18, 2012}}
On May 2, 2024, Thomas appeared onstage with the Rolling Stones at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival where she and Mick Jagger sang a duet of her 1964 hit song "Time Is On My Side", which the Stones also recorded just months after her version was released.{{cite news |last=Spera |first=Keith |date=May 7, 2024 |title=Rolling Stones release video of backstage Jazz Fest rehearsal with Irma Thomas |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/see-a-rolling-stones-jazz-fest-rehearsal-with-irma-thomas/article_08a6cb0a-0c9c-11ef-a69e-d75338c94409.html |work=NOLA.com |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |access-date=May 11, 2024}} The song was the Stones' first Top Ten American hit, and the Jazz Fest set was the first time that Thomas and the Stones have performed together.{{cite news |last=Spera |first=Keith |date=May 2, 2024 |title=The Rolling Stones' age-defying 2024 Jazz Fest show went 'from old to new' with Irma Thomas |url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/2024-jazz-fest-got-a-great-rolling-stones-with-irma-thomas/article_435d9202-08ea-11ef-9b79-5b623afe2974.html |work=NOLA.com |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |access-date=May 11, 2024}}
In 2025, Thomas's album Audience with the Queen came out with Galactic, the New Orleans electro-funkers.{{Cite news |last=Cartwright |first=Garth |date=30 May 2025 |title=Soul Survivor |work=The Guardian Weekly |pages=51-53}}
=Artists worked with=
- Tommy Ridgley
- Eddie Bo
- Edgar Blanchard
- Bill Sinigal
- Irving Banister
- Patsy Vidalia
- Marcia Ball
- Dr. John
- Allen Toussaint
- Hugh Laurie
- Skip Easterling{{cite book |last=Hannusch |first=John |title=The Soul of New Orleans, a Legacy of Rhythm and Blues |year=2001 |publisher=Swallow Publications |isbn=978-0961424589}}
- Danny White{{cite web |website=Recordcollectormag.com |title="Times Have Changed But That Don't Make 'Em Better-Interview With Irma Thomas" |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/times-have-changed-but-that-dont-make-em-better |access-date=January 19, 2021 |language=en}}
=Influences=
- Etta James
- Mahalia Jackson
- Pearl Bailey
- Nancy Wilson
- Brook Benton
- John Lee Hooker
- Percy Mayfield{{cite web |last=Sinclair |first=John |title=Irma Thomas: An Audience with the Soul Queen of New Orleans |url=http://www.bluesaccess.com/No_41/irma.html |website=Bluesaccess.com |access-date=May 16, 2014}}
Discography
=Singles=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Year || A-side || B-side || Record label and catalog reference || US chart statistics{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303889/irma-thomas/chart |title=Irma Thomas – Chart history – Billboard |website=Billboard.com |access-date=August 23, 2017}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | "Don't Mess with My Man" | "Set Me Free" | style="text-align:center;|Ron Records 328 | No. 22 – R&B |
| 1959 | "A Good Man" | "I May Be Wrong" | style="text-align:center;|Ron Records 330 | |
| 1961 | "Girl Needs Boy" | "Cry On" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 625 | |
| 1961 | "It's Too Soon to Know" | "That's All I Ask" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 633 | |
| 1962 | "Gone" | "I Done Got Over It" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 642 | |
| 1962 | "It's Raining" | "I Did My Part" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 653 | |
| 1962 | "Two Winters Long" | "Somebody Told Me" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 660 | |
| 1963 | "Ruler of My Heart" | "Hittin' on Nothing" | style="text-align:center;|Minit Records 666 | |
| 1963 | "For Goodness Sake" | "Whenever (Look Up)" | style="text-align:center;|Bandy Records 368 | |
| 1963 | "Foolish Girl" | "When I Met You" | style="text-align:center;|Bumpa Records 711 | |
| 1964 | "Wish Someone Would Care" | "Break-A-Way" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66013 | No. 17 – Pop |
| 1964 | "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" | "Time Is on My Side" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66041 | No. 52 – Pop |
| 1964 | "Times Have Changed" | "Moments to Remember" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66069 | No. 98 – Pop |
| 1964 | "He's My Guy" | "(I Want A) True, True Love" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66080 | No. 63 – Pop |
| 1965 | "You Don't Miss A Good Thing (Until It's Gone)" | "Some Things You Never Get Used To" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66095 | |
| 1965 | "I'm Gonna Cry Till My Tears Run Dry" | "Nobody Wants to Hear Nobody's Troubles" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66106 | |
| 1965 | "The Hurt's All Gone" | "It's Starting to Get to Me Now" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66120 | |
| 1965 | "Take a Look" | "What Are You Trying to Do" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66137 | |
| 1966 | "It's a Man's – Woman's World (Part 1)" | "It's a Man's – Woman's World (Part 2)" | style="text-align:center;|Imperial Records 66178 | |
| 1967 | "Cheater Man" | "Somewhere Crying" | style="text-align:center;|Chess Records 2010 | |
| 1967 | "A Woman Will Do Wrong" | "I Gave You Everything" | style="text-align:center;|Chess Records 2017 | |
| 1968 | "Good to Me" | "We Got Something Good" | style="text-align:center;|Chess Records 2036 | No. 42 – R&B |
| 1970 | "Save a Little Bit For Me" | "That's How I Feel About You" | style="text-align:center;|Canyon Records 21 | |
| 1971 | "I'd Do It All Over You" | "We Won't Be in Your Way Anymore" | style="text-align:center;|Canyon Records 31 | |
| 1972 | "Full Time Woman" | "She's Taking My Part" | style="text-align:center;|Cotillion Records 41444 | |
| 1973 | "She'll Never Be Your Wife" | "You're the Dog" | style="text-align:center;|Fungus Records 15119 | |
| 1973 | "In Between Tears (Part 1)" | "In Between Tears (Part 2)" | style="text-align:center;|Fungus Records 15141 | |
| 1974 | "Coming from Behind (Part 1)" | "Coming from Behind (Part 2)" | style="text-align:center;|Fungus Records 15353 | |
| 1977 | "Don't Blame Him" | "Breakaway" | style="text-align:center;|Maison de Soul 1012 | |
| 1978 | "Hip Shakin' Mama" | "Hittin' on Nothin'" | style="text-align:center;|Maison de Soul 1058 | |
| 1979 | "Safe With Me" | "Zero Willpower" | style="text-align:center;|RCS Records 1006 | |
| 1980 | "Take What You Find" | "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" | style="text-align:center;|RCS Records 1008 | |
| 1980 | "A Woman Left Lonely" | "Dance Me Down Easy" | style="text-align:center;|RCS Records 1010 | |
| 1981 | "Looking Back" | "Don't Stop" | style="text-align:center;|RCS Records 1013 | |
| 1988 | "Mardi Gras Mambo" | "I Believe Saints Go All the Way" | style="text-align:center;|Sound of New Orleans 10311 | {{cite web |url=http://www.helsinki.fi/~ilva/irmadisco.html |title=Irma Thomas: A discography of US singles |website=Helsinki.fi |access-date=May 16, 2014}} |
| 2013 | "For The Rest Of My Life" | "Forever Young" | style="text-align:center;|Swamp Island | {{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5H6eoIgjOl1Nm9lE0xIp1W |website=Open.spotify.com |title=Irma Thomas |access-date=May 12, 2020}} |
=Albums=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year || Title || Record label || Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Wish Someone Would Care | style="text-align:center;|Imperial | |
| 1966 | Take a Look | style="text-align:center;|Imperial | |
| 1973 | In Between Tears | style="text-align:center;|Fungus | |
| 1977 | Irma Thomas Live – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | style="text-align:center;|Island | |
| 1978 | Soul Queen of New Orleans | style="text-align:center;|Maison de Soul | |
| 1979 | Safe with Me | style="text-align:center;|RCS | |
| 1981 | In Between Tears | style="text-align:center;|Charly | Reissue of the Fungus LP |
| 1981 | Hip Shakin' Mama | style="text-align:center;|Charly | Reissue of the Island LP |
| 1984 | Down at Muscle Shoals | style="text-align:center;|Chess/P-Vine | from 1967/68 for Chess |
| 1986 | The New Rules | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1988 | The Way I Feel | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1991 | Live: Simply the Best | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1992 | True Believer | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1993 | Walk Around Heaven: New Orleans Gospel Soul | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1993 | Turn My World Around | style="text-align:center;|Shanachie | |
| 1997 | The Story of My Life | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 1998 | Sing It! | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | with Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson |
| 2000 | My Heart's in Memphis: The Songs of Dan Penn | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 2006 | After the Rain | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | Grammy winner, Best Contemporary Blues Album |
| 2008 | Simply Grand | style="text-align:center;|Rounder/Decca | |
| 2014 | Full Time Woman – The Lost Cotillion Album | style="text-align:center;|RGM/Rhino | from 1971/72 for Atlantic/Cotillion |
| 2025 | Audience With the Queen | style="text-align:center;|Tchoup-Zilla Records | Collaboration with Galactic |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year || Title || Record label || Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Irma Thomas Sings | style="text-align:center;|Bandy | Minit/Bandy recordings |
| 1983 | Time Is on My Side | style="text-align:center;|Kent | Minit/Imperial recordings |
| 1986 | Break-A-Way: The Best of Irma Thomas | style="text-align:center;|Legendary Masters Series (EMI-USA) | |
| 1987 | BreakaWay | style="text-align:center;|Stateside | Minit/Imperial recordings |
| 1990 | Something Good: The Muscle Shoals Sessions | style="text-align:center;|MCA/Chess | Chess recordings |
| 1991 | Safe with Me/Irma Thomas Live | style="text-align:center;|Paula | |
| 1992 | Time Is on My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas Volume 1 | style="text-align:center;|EMI-USA | Minit/Imperial |
| 1996 | Ruler of Hearts | style="text-align:center;|Charly | Minit/Bandy/Island |
| 1996 | Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection | style="text-align:center;|Razor & Tie | Minit/Imperial |
| 1996 | Time Is on My Side | style="text-align:center;|Kent | Expanded version of 1983 LP |
| 2001 | If You Want It, Come and Get It | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | |
| 2005 | Straight from the Soul | style="text-align:center;|Stateside | Minit/Imperial |
| 2006 | A Woman's Viewpoint: The Essential 1970s Recordings | style="text-align:center;|Ace | Fungus/Canyon/RCS |
| 2006 | Wish Someone Would Care/Take a Look | style="text-align:center;|Collectables | Imperial |
| 2009 | The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary Celebration | style="text-align:center;|Rounder | Three previously unreleased, out of fifteen tracks |
=Guest appearances=
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year || Title || Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Always for Pleasure | |
| 2005 | Make It Funky! | |
| 2006 | New Orleans Music in Exile | |
| 2010 | Treme | TV series |
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{allMusic|artist/irma-thomas-mn0000772526}}
- {{Discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name|1192417}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Irma}}
Category:20th-century African-American women singers
Category:20th-century American women singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:American women singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singers
Category:Contemporary blues musicians
Category:Delgado Community College alumni
Category:Imperial Records artists
Category:Chess Records artists
Category:Island Records artists
Category:Rounder Records artists
Category:Minit Records artists
Category:Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans
Category:People from Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Category:American soul musicians
Category:Alive Naturalsound Records artists
Category:American blues singers
Category:Blues musicians from Louisiana
Category:Singers from Louisiana
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century African-American women