Carla Thomas

Carla Venita Thomas (born December 21, 1942) Along with her siblings, Marvell and Vaneese, she was one of three musical children of Rufus and Lorene Thomas. Despite growing up in the projects, the Thomas family lived near the Palace Theater on Beale Street, as Rufus was the theater's Master of Ceremonies (MC) for their amateur shows. This access not only gave Thomas her first taste of the music world but it also provided a springboard for her transformation into the Queen of the Memphis Sound.

Teen Town Singers In Memphis, the African-American-centered WDIA radio station sponsored a rotating musical group of high school students called the Teen Town Singers; notable alumni include Anita Louis and Isaac Hayes. Although the requirements to join the Teen Town Singers stated that the person should be of high school age, Thomas became a member in 1952 at the age of 10. She was able to sneak into their ranks thanks to the fact that her father Rufus was an on-air personality for the radio station. This opportunity with the Teen Town Singers did not come without its drawbacks though.

As a 10-year-old student, Thomas was responsible for not only attending classes and completing her schoolwork, but she also had to attend rehearsals on Wednesdays and Fridays after school and then perform at the station on Saturday.

"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" Although this single would eventually chart within the Top 10 on the pop chart and within the top 5 on the R&B chart, it had an inauspicious beginning. Initially recorded at the Thomas family home, Rufus shopped the song to Vee-Jay Records in Chicago. Vee-Jay never followed through or actively pursued securing the distribution rights. Because of his belief in the song's potential, Rufus returned to Memphis and in the summer of 1960, Thomas would cut the teen love song that she wrote when she was only 15 years old. Not only did this song provide a launching pad for Thomas' first album, but it also gave Stax Records national exposure and label recognition.

1970s–present After her last Stax recording in 1971, Love Means..., and an appearance in Wattstax in 1972, Thomas slipped into relative obscurity when compared to her 1960s musical heyday. She featured in a number of modern-day projects, including a 1994 compilation of her greatest hits, a 2002 live recording of a Memphis performance and the 2007 release Live at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington, D.C., a long lost live recording of Thomas in 1967. She would also occasionally tour during the 1980s and became heavily involved in the “Artists in the Schools” program that provided Memphis schoolchildren with access to successful artists. These workshops were organized to talk to teenagers about music, performing arts and drug abuse. In 1991, she appeared with her father at the Porretta Terme Soul Festival. She was also featured in the 2003 documentary Only the Strong Survive, that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and showcased important Stax recording artists. In 2021, Thomas featured on Valerie June's single "Call Me a Fool", which received a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Song.

Artistry Influences Carla's biggest influence was her father, Rufus. Besides accompanying him during his 'MC' days at the Palace Theater, Rufus also encouraged and believed in his daughter's ability. According to Carla, “My dad probably discovered I could sing before I did”.

1961

Atlantic 1965

1966

1967

1969

1971

Live albums 2002: Live in Memphis (Memphis International) 2007: Live at the Bohemian Caverns (Stax/Concord) recorded live May 27, 1967 in Washington, D.C.

Collaborations 1967: King & Queen (with Otis Redding) (Stax) – US No. 36, R&B No. 5

Compilations 1969: The Best of Carla Thomas (Stax) – US No. 190 1994: Gee Whiz: The Best of Carla Thomas (Rhino) 2004: Hidden Gems (Stax) previously unissued material recorded between 1960 and 1968

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumUS USR&B/HH UK UK R&B "Cause I Love You"(with Rufus Thomas) 1960 — — — — "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" 10 5 — — Gee Whiz "A Love of My Own" 1961 56 20 — — "I Didn't Believe"(with Rufus Thomas) — — — — "(Mama, Mama) Wish Me Good Luck" — — — — "I Kinda Think He Does" — — — — "I'll Bring It Home to You" 1962 41 9 — — "What a Fool I've Been"1963 93 28 — — "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" — — — —A-side: "That's Really Some Good"(with Rufus Thomas) 1964 92 30 — — B-side:"Night Time Is the Right Time"(with Rufus Thomas) 94 — — — "I've Got No Time to Lose" 67 13 — 9 "A Woman's Love" 71 29 — — "How Do You Quit (Someone You Love)" 1965 — 39 — — "Stop! Look What You're Doin'" 92 30 — — "When You Move You Lose"(with Rufus Thomas) — — — — "Comfort Me" — — — — Comfort Me "Birds & Bees"(with Rufus Thomas) 1966 — — — — "Let Me Be Good to You" 62 11 — — Carla "B-A-B-Y" 14 3 — — RIAA: Gold "All I Want for Christmas Is You" — — — — "Something Good (Is Going to Happen to You)" 1967 74 29 — — The Queen Alone "When Tomorrow Comes" 99 — — "Tramp"(with Otis Redding) 26 2 18 1 King & Queen "I'll Always Have Faith in You" 85 11 — — The Queen Alone "Knock on Wood"(with Otis Redding) 30 8 35 8 King & Queen "Pick Up the Pieces" 68 16 — 15 "Lovey Dovey"(with Otis Redding) 1968 60 21 — 17 King & Queen "A Dime a Dozen" 114 — — — "Where Do I Go?" 86 38 — — Memphis Queen "I've Fallen in Love" 1969 117 36 — — "I Like What You're Doing to Me" 49 9 — — "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"(with Otis Redding) 109 — — — King & Queen "Just Keep On Loving Me"(with Johnnie Taylor) 115 — — — "I Need You Woman"(with Johnnie Taylor) 106 — — — "Guide Me Well" 1970 107 41 — — Memphis Queen "Live in the City" — — — — "I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life"1971 — — — — "You've Got a Cushion to Fall On" 1972 — 49 — — "Sugar" — — — — "I May Not Be All You Want (But I'm All You Got)" 1973 — — — — "Love Among the People"1974 — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artist TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum USAAA "Call Me a Fool" 202124 The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers