Tasha Thomas (c. 1945 – November 8, 1984) was an American singer and actress, known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of The Wiz. Thomas also had a hit single, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", from her 1979 album, Midnight Rendezvous. Her birthplace is often cited as "Jeutyn, Alaska", though no such town exists.
Thomas' breakthrough came when she was cast in the original Broadway production of The Wiz in the role of Aunt Em. Her performance on the cast album, singing her soulful rendition of the ballad "The Feeling We Once Had", earned her wide critical acclaim. In 1972 Tasha sang backup vocals along with singer-songwriter & Songwriters Hall of FamerEllie Greenwich (1949–2009) for Jim Croce's debut album You Don't Mess Around With Jim. She appears on Slade's 1976 Nobody's Fools LP providing backing vocals on several songs including the title track. Tasha also provided backup vocals on the 1977 Kiss album Love Gun, as one of the "KISSettes".
In 1978, on the basis of her growing popularity as a singer capable of performing in many different styles and genres, producers James R. Glaser (aka Jimmi Hood) and Peter Rugile signed Thomas to their company, Orbit Record Productions. Her first record release on the producer's independent label, Orbit Records, was the international dance hit, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", written by James R. Glaser. Unable to keep pace with the demand for the record, producers Glaser/Rugile took Thomas and their production company to Atlantic Records to complete Thomas's first solo albumMidnight Rendezvous.
Recorded in 1979, Midnight Rendezvous included the track, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", which was the biggest hit from the album. The New York Times music critic Robert Palmer, described the song as "...one of the grittiest and most rousing disco records of the year destined to become a classic of erotic dance music."[1]
Television appearances
Following the success of "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", Thomas was frequently invited to guest star on television music and talk shows, including appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert,Soul Train (season 8, episode 32 – air date: March 24, 1979),[2]The Merv Griffin Show, (season 11, episode 2395) The Midnight Special (season 7, episode 25 – air date: May 4, 1979) and Dance Fever (May 1979).[2]
Death
Thomas died of cancer in 1984, at the age of 39.[3]
Awards
"Shoot Me (With Your Love)" was nominated for "Best R&B Single of the Year" at the 1979 BMA Awards.
tasha, thomas, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tasha Thomas news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Tasha Thomas c 1945 November 8 1984 was an American singer and actress known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of The Wiz Thomas also had a hit single Shoot Me With Your Love from her 1979 album Midnight Rendezvous Her birthplace is often cited as Jeutyn Alaska though no such town exists Tasha ThomasBackground informationBornc 1945DiedNovember 8 1984GenresR amp B soul discoOccupation s Singer songwriter actressYears active1978 1984LabelsOrbit Atlantic Buddha Roulette Contents 1 Music career 2 Television appearances 3 Death 4 Awards 5 Discography 5 1 Albums 5 2 Singles 6 References 7 External linksMusic career EditThomas breakthrough came when she was cast in the original Broadway production of The Wiz in the role of Aunt Em Her performance on the cast album singing her soulful rendition of the ballad The Feeling We Once Had earned her wide critical acclaim In 1972 Tasha sang backup vocals along with singer songwriter amp Songwriters Hall of Famer Ellie Greenwich 1949 2009 for Jim Croce s debut album You Don t Mess Around With Jim She appears on Slade s 1976 Nobody s Fools LP providing backing vocals on several songs including the title track Tasha also provided backup vocals on the 1977 Kiss album Love Gun as one of the KISSettes In 1978 on the basis of her growing popularity as a singer capable of performing in many different styles and genres producers James R Glaser aka Jimmi Hood and Peter Rugile signed Thomas to their company Orbit Record Productions Her first record release on the producer s independent label Orbit Records was the international dance hit Shoot Me With Your Love written by James R Glaser Unable to keep pace with the demand for the record producers Glaser Rugile took Thomas and their production company to Atlantic Records to complete Thomas s first solo album Midnight Rendezvous Recorded in 1979 Midnight Rendezvous included the track Shoot Me With Your Love which was the biggest hit from the album The New York Times music critic Robert Palmer described the song as one of the grittiest and most rousing disco records of the year destined to become a classic of erotic dance music 1 Television appearances EditFollowing the success of Shoot Me With Your Love Thomas was frequently invited to guest star on television music and talk shows including appearances on Don Kirshner s Rock Concert Soul Train season 8 episode 32 air date March 24 1979 2 The Merv Griffin Show season 11 episode 2395 The Midnight Special season 7 episode 25 air date May 4 1979 and Dance Fever May 1979 2 Death EditThomas died of cancer in 1984 at the age of 39 3 Awards Edit Shoot Me With Your Love was nominated for Best R amp B Single of the Year at the 1979 BMA Awards Discography EditAlbums Edit The Wiz Atlantic Records ASIN B000V6AS46 Midnight Rendezvous Atlantic Records ATLANTIC SD 19223 1 Singles Edit Rock A Bye Baby 2011 Shoot Me With Your Love U S No 91 Pop No 25 R amp B UK No 59 4 Hot Buttered Boogie Street Fever References Edit Robert Palmer The New York Times June 21 1979 a b Soul Train Isaac Hayes Tasha Thomas TV com Retrieved April 11 2020 The Dead Rock Stars Club The 1980s Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved April 11 2020 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 557 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 External links EditTasha Thomas discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tasha Thomas amp oldid 1127620455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
