Irwin Thomas

Irwin Thomas Whittridge was born in 1971 in Manhattan, New York City.{{Cite web|title=Irwin Thomas aka Jack Jones {{!}} Australian Music Database|url=http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/people/irwin-thomas-aka-jack-jones|access-date=2021-10-24|website=www.australianmusicdatabase.com}} His father Pvt. Irwin Thomas Whittridge Snr (born, June 1908 – June 1971),{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0328689/ | title=Jack Goode | website=IMDb }} who went under the stage name of Jack Goode,{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/25/archives/jack-goode-a-veteran-player-in-musical-comedies-63-dies.html | title=Jack Goode, a Veteran Player in Musical Comedies, 63, Dies | newspaper=The New York Times | date=25 June 1971 }} was a Broadway performer. His mother, Renalda Whittridge (née Green), was an Australian-born folk singer and dancer; she returned to Australia in 1980, with her son.{{cite web |url = http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4328515&isAv=N |title = Item details for: B44, V1980/48695, Title: Whittridge, Renalda |publisher = National Archives of Australia |date = 31 May 2000 |access-date = 20 May 2016 }} He was later known as Jack Thomas Whittridge Jones.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-30|title=INTERVIEW – JACK JONES (Irwin Thomas) – August 2016|url=https://100percentrock.com/2016/08/interview-jack-jones-irwin-thomas-august-2016/|access-date=2021-10-04|website=100% ROCK MAGAZINE|language=en-US}}

While at a secondary school in the city of Traralgon, in the mid-1980s, Thomas was a member of rock groups Get off the Cat and then Survival.Irwin Thomas/Jack Jones at the Australian Rock Database:

• Jack Jones: {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930080427/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/j/jonesjack.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/j/jonesjack.html |title=Jack Jones |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |work=hem.passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date=30 September 2013 |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
• John Farnham Band (1990–91): {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005244/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/f/farnhamjohn.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/f/farnhamjohn.html |title=John Farnham |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |first2=Scott |last2=Reboulet |first3=Lyn |last3=Albury |first4=Beeb |last4=Birtles |author-link4=Beeb Birtles |first5=Stefan |last5=Warnqvist |first6=Peter |last6=Medlin |work=hem.passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date=22 September 2013 |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
• Southern Sons (1990–95): {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008180621/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/southernsons.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/southernsons.html |title=Southern Sons |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |work=hem.passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date= 8 October 2012 |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
• Good Vibrations – A Concert for Marc Hunter (1998):{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921221303/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/comp/goodvibrations.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/comp/goodvibrations.html |title=Good Vibrations – A Concert for Marc Hunter |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |work=hem.passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date=21 September 2013 |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
• Irwin Thomas (2001–present): {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040317044556/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/i/irwinthomas.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/i/irwinthomas.html |title=Irwin Thomas |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |work=hem.passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |archive-date=17 March 2004 |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=usurped }}

Spencer et al, (2007), "Jack Jones" profile.

In the late 1980s, he was a member of Hans Valen, which covered material by United States heavy rocker, Van Halen; and then he was in Gnomes of Zurich. As Jones, he auditioned as lead vocalist for a Melbourne-based rock-pop group, the State. The State had formed in 1987, with the line-up of Peter Bowman on lead guitar and backing vocals (ex-Cutters), Phil Buckle on guitar and lead vocals (Cutters), Geoff Cain on bass guitar and Virgil Donati on drums (Taste, Cutters).McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419221828/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=394 'Southern Sons']. Retrieved 8 February 2010. He was considered too young for that group.

In mid-1990, Thomas, as Jones (on lead guitar), worked alongside Buckle in John Farnham's backing band to record that artist's album, Chain Reaction (September 1990). Jones, on lead vocals and lead guitar, was asked by Buckle to form the Southern Sons, with former the State members: Bowman, Cain and Donati. In April 1991, Buckle explained to Charles Miranda of The Canberra Times that Jones was recruited because "[The State] were going nowhere fast. At this stage [in late 1989] Buckle realised that his songs had potential but his voice didn't".{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122354701 |title=Good Times: Sons Defend Their Sound |last = Miranda |first = Charles |newspaper = The Canberra Times |volume = 65 |issue = 20,445 |date = 4 April 1991 |access-date = 21 May 2016 |page = 15 |via = National Library of Australia }}

Southern Sons' debut self-titled album was released on 1 June 1990, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Their first single, "Heart in Danger", was released in August, it also reached No. 5 on the related ARIA Singles Chart.{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Southern+Sons | title = Southern Sons Discography | work = Australian Charts Portal |publisher = Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) |last = Hung |first = Steffen |access-date = 21 May 2016 }} Jones and Buckle toured Australia and Europe as members of Farnham's backing band to promote Chain Reaction. Southern Sons were a support act on Farnham's tours in 1990 and 1991. The group also undertook their own headlining national tours. Buckle disputed media criticism that Southern Sons "sounded too similar to John Farnham's music"; he felt that although "Jack Jones, has a similar voice, they are very different. He believes the Sons guitar work makes for a harder sound." Bowman left the group as a four-piece in mid-1992.

As a member of Southern Sons, Thomas co-wrote some of their later material, including three tracks on their second album, Nothing But the Truth (November 1992),{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126959622 |title = Sons emerge from eclipse |last = Gee |first = Mike |newspaper = The Canberra Times |volume = 67 |issue = 21,053 |date = 3 December 1992 |access-date = 21 May 2016 |page = 17 |via = National Library of Australia}} and six of eleven tracks for their third album, Zone (1995).{{cite web |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Zone' at APRA search engine |url=https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch#axd?q=Zone |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020448/https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |archive-date=17 November 2015 }} Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. Zone; or at "Performer:" Southern Sons The latter album was co-produced by the band with former member, Bowman. By the end of 1995 the group disbanded.

During the 1990s, Thomas worked as a session musician on albums by other artists including Lisa Edwards' Thru the Hoop (June 1993),{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127233244 |title=Good Times: Disc Review – The funky feel grabs you by the ears |last = Hannan |first = Bevan |newspaper = The Canberra Times |volume = 67 |issue = 21,247 |date = 17 June 1993 |access-date = 21 May 2016 | page = 28 |via = National Library of Australia}} Debra Byrne's Sleeping Child (July 1994),{{cite news |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118189834 |title = Arts and Entertainment: Striking out with an individual voice |last = Daly |first = Mike |newspaper = The Canberra Times |volume = 69 |issue = 21,633 |date = 9 July 1994 |access-date = 21 May 2016 |page = 47 |via = National Library of Australia }} Phil and Tommy Emmanuel's Terra Firma (April 1995),{{cite news |title = Interview: Andrián Pertout speaks with Tommy about the Emmanuel brothers' recording debut with the album Terra Firma |last = Pertout |first = Andrián |url = http://www.pertout.com/Emmanuel1.htm |access-date = 21 May 2016 |work = Mixdown Monthly |via = Andrián Pertout Official Website |issue = 13 |date = 26 April 1995 }} Bachelor Girl's Waiting for the Day (November 1998),{{cite web |archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060728140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20060729-0000/www.howlspace.com.au/cn/southernsons/southernsons.html |url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/cn/southernsons/southernsons.html |title = Southern Sons |last1 = Nimmervoll |first1 = Ed |author-link1 = Ed Nimmervoll |publisher = Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll) |archive-date = 28 July 2006 |access-date = 22 January 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and Farnham's Live at the Regent Theatre 1st July 1999 (1999) as well as touring in Farnham's backing band for the I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour.

In 1996, Thomas and Donati formed a trio, Hong Kong Meeting, with Steve Hunter on bass guitar.{{cite web |url = http://www.montxsuz.ca/jazz/music/jazz_cl.htm |title = Jazz Biographies: Jazz Musician Database C-L |author = Christo |work = MontXsuZ |access-date = 21 May 2016}} Late in the next year Thomas and Donati joined Tina Arena's backing band for her national tour in support of her third solo studio album, In Deep (August 1997). In the following year, Thomas formed the Jack Jones Band with Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar (ex-INXS) and Alex Formosa on drums. In March 1998 they performed at the Good Vibrations benefit concert by various artists for Marc Hunter, the ailing lead singer of New Zealand-Australian band, Dragon, who had been diagnosed with throat cancer.{{cite web |url=http://www.milesago.com/Obits/hunterobit.htm | title = Obituaries – Marc Hunter |last = Kimball |first = Duncan |access-date = 21 May 2016 }} Thomas covered the tracks "Are You Old Enough", "Voodoo Chile" and "Both of Me", he also performed a duet with Tommy Emmanuel on "Nothing to Lose". A double-CD and a VHS of the concert, both titled Good Vibrations – A Concert for Marc Hunter, were released in mid-1998. Hunter died in July 1998.

Thomas reverted to his birth name in 2000, working with Ahmet Zappa in Los Angeles, and with Beers. He has released music as a solo artist, first for BMG and then as an independent artist, with The Evolution of Irwin Thomas appearing in 2002. Since 2004 he has also been involved with Melbourne band Electric Mary, and he is also in a band called She Said Yes, led by Tania Doko, the former lead singer of Bachelor Girl.{{cite web |url=http://www.amusicdegreethatrocks.vu.edu.au/PotentialUnlimited1/Default.asp?PotentialUnlimited1=SheSaidYes |title=Victoria University A Music Degree That Rocks |work=vu.edu.au |access-date=16 August 2016}}

Jones was married to New Zealand-born Australian actress Rebecca Gibney from 1992 to 1995, which ended in divorce.{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Jenna |title=Rebecca Gibney shares the story about how the Today Show{{'}}s Richard Wilkins broke her heart, again |url = http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/ls-celebrity-news/rebecca-gibney-shares-the-story-about-how-the-today-shows-richard-wilkins-broke-her-heart-again-20150204-135t6d.html#ixzz49ANew7xt |access-date=20 May 2016 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 February 2015}} In December 1994, Gibney promoted her recent romantic comedy film, Lucky Break; she described her differences from her character, to The Canberra Times{{'}} David Bongiorno: "She's so unlike any other character I've played before. She's a woman you love to hate... And there's a part of me in there, because I know I wouldn't let my husband (Jack Jones of Southern Sons) go easily at all!"{{cite news |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127262598 |title = The Guide: Born Natural |last = Bongiorno |first = David |newspaper = The Canberra Times |volume = 70 |issue = 21,802 |date = 26 December 1994 |access-date = 21 May 2016 |page = 29 |via = National Library of Australia }}

• The Evolution of Irwin Thomas (2002) Gotham Records
• California Dreaming (with Rick Price) (2017) Sony Music Australia{{Cite web|url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/browse/pop/california-dreaming/496401/|title=California Dreaming by RICK PRICE & JACK JONES|publisher=JBHiFi|access-date=25 August 2017}}

• Made in China (2007)

• "Get Up and Get Out of Your Mind" (2002)
• "Let's Go" (2006)
• "Get Your Radio On" (2006)
• "I Can't Wait" (2006)
• "Into Trouble" (2006)
• "Peace Now" (2006)
• "Disconnected" (2009)
• "Hold Me in Your Arms" (with Dami Im) (2017)
• "California Dreamin'" (2017) (with Rick Price) (2017)
• "Rain" (2018) (with Scott Darlow, Sarah McLeod, Adam Brand and Todd Hunter){{cite web|url=https://www.triplem.com.au/music/news/welcome-to-the-drought-breakers-australia-s-newest-band-raising-money-for-the-farmers|title=Welcome To The Drought Breakers- Australia's Newest Band Raising Money For The Farmers |publisher=Triple M|date=14 September 2018 |access-date=14 September 2018}}

{{refbegin}}

;General

• {{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |title=Whammo Homepage |url=http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |access-date=8 February 2010 |year=1999 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |archive-date=5 April 2004 }} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
• {{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock |last=Spencer|first=Chris |author2=Zbig Nowara |author3=Paul McHenry |others = Ed Nimmervoll (notes) |orig-year = 1987 |year = 2002 |publisher = Five Mile Press |location = Noble Park, Vic |isbn = 1-86503-891-1 }}{{cite web |url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2090055 |title=Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry |work=catalogue|publisher= National Library of Australia | access-date = 8 February 2010}} Note: [on-line] version established at [https://web.archive.org/web/20091015024603/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd] in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.

;Specific

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|irwinthomas.net}}
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060628203342/http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=41130 Irwin Thomas @ IAC]}}

{{Southern Sons}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Irwin}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:American emigrants to Australia

Category:Australian people of American descent

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Category:20th-century Australian singers

Category:20th-century Australian guitarists

Category:20th-century Australian male singers

Category:Australian male guitarists

Category:American people of Australian descent

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Category:The Fabulous Caprettos members