Not only did this song provide a launching pad for Thomas' first album, but it also gave Stax Records national exposure and label recognition.Īfter 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. According to Thomas, "The record was young-sounding, romantic and it expressed what a lot of people wanted to say at that age, but still, I was surprised at how well it did". The success of the single also propelled Thomas into the spotlight, as she performed on American Bandstand. However, by February 1961, thanks to a distribution deal made between Satellite and Atlantic Records, the song was being distributed nationally through Atlantic just as Thomas was in the midst of her first year at Tennessee A&I University in Nashville. The song was released by Rufus and Carla in October 1960, to not much fanfare. 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. ![]() Vee-Jay never followed through or actively pursued securing the distribution rights. Initially recorded at the Thomas family home, Rufus shopped the song to Vee-Jay Records in Chicago. "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" Īlthough 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. Her duet, "Tramp", with Otis Redding reached number 26 on the pop chart the following year.and her album of duets with Otis Redding, King & Queen, was a number 18 hit in the UK Albums Chart. While she continued to have success on the R&B charts throughout the 1960s, her only other solo top 40 pop hit was "B-A-B-Y", reaching number 14 in 1966. He signed a deal with the owners of Satellite Records, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, to distribute "Cause I Love You" and thus paved the way for Thomas’ most famous single, " Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)", reaching number 10 on the pop chart and number 5 on the R&B chart. Recorded when Thomas was still attending Hamilton High School in Memphis, the record drew enough local attention to catch the interest of Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records. Her first record, "'Cause I Love You" (1960), was a duet with her father, with brother Marvell on keyboards, that was released by Satellite Records, which eventually became Stax Records. Thomas is best known for the work she completed for both Atlantic Records and most notably, Stax Records in the 1960s. According to her, "It was a lot of fun, it really was." She remained with the Teen Town Singers up until the end of her senior year. However, despite this grueling schedule, Thomas thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This opportunity with the Teen Town Singers did not come without its drawbacks though.Īs 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Along with her siblings, Marvell and Vaneese, she was one of three musical children of Rufus and Lorene Thomas. Thomas was born and raised in the Foote Homes Projects in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Thomas is best known for her 1960s recordings for Atlantic and Stax including the hits " Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" (1960), " B-A-B-Y" (1966) and "Tramp" (1967), a duet with Otis Redding. Carla Venita Thomas (born December 21, 1942) is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul.
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