Irma Thomas

b. Irma Lee, 18 February 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA. The Soul Queen Of New Orleans was discovered in 1958 by bandleader Tommy Ridgley. Her early records were popular locally, but an R&B hit came in 1960 with (You Can Have My Husband But Please) Don't Mess With My Man. The following year Thomas rejoined producer/writer Allen Toussaint, with whom she had worked on her first recordings. This reunion resulted in two of Irma's finest singles, It's Raining and Ruler Of My Heart (1962), the latter a prototype for Otis Redding's Pain In My Heart. After signing with the Imperial label in 1963 she recorded Wish Someone Would Care (1964), which reached the US Top 20, while the follow-up, Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), also entered the national chart. This single is better recalled for its b-side, Time Is On My Side, which was successfully covered by the The Rolling Stones. Thomas continued to record excellent singles without achieving due commercial success. Her final hit was a magnificent interpretation of Good To Me (1968), recorded at Muscle Shoals and issued on Chess. She then moved to Canyon, Roker and Cotillion, before appearing on Swamp Dogg's short-lived Fungus label with IN BETWEEN TEARS (1973). Irma has continued to record fine albums and remains a highly popular live attraction. Her career continues into the '90s with new albums and a planned biography.