Soul-D-Out Artist Salute: Joe Thomas

Joe Lewis Thomas, usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. Joe is a native of Cuthbert, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama. The son of two preachers, Joe spent much time in church singing, playing guitar, and even directing the choir. He was influenced in his early career by gospel performers such as: The Winans, Commissioned, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Joe also grew to love soul legends such Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as well as contemporary stars such as Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat.
Joe graduated from high school and continued to sing and write music while working at occasional temporary jobs. Finally, he traveled to New Jersey, hoping to make connections in the music industry. While working at a gospel record store and continuing his music education through a local church, he met producer Vincent Herbert and recorded a three-song demo tape, and the rest is history and now 9 albums later.