ジョー (Joe)

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

Joe Thomas was born the son of two preachers in Columbus, Georgia. 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 traveled 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. 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 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 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...
(Wikipedia: Joe (singer))