Carla Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas c. 1960s
Background information
Birth name	Carla Venita Thomas
Born	(1942-12-21) December 21, 1942 (age 82) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	R&B Memphis soul Southern soul soul
Occupation(s)	Vocalist
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Stax
Associated acts	Rufus Thomas Otis Redding

Carla Venita Thomas (born December 21, 1942) is an American singer. Many people call her the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is famous for her songs from the 1960s. These include hits like "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" (1960) and "B-A-B-Y" (1966). She also sang "Tramp" (1967) with Otis Redding. Carla is the daughter of the well-known singer Rufus Thomas.

Biography

Early Life

Carla Thomas grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, in an area called Foote Homes Projects. She was one of three children who loved music. Her brother was Marvell Thomas and her sister was Vaneese Thomas. Their father, Rufus Thomas, was a Master of Ceremonies (MC) at the Palace Theater on Beale Street. This meant Carla got to see a lot of music shows early on. It helped her get started in the music world.

Teen Town Singers

When Carla was young, a radio station in Memphis called WDIA had a special music group. It was for high school students and was called the Teen Town Singers. Famous musicians like Isaac Hayes were also part of this group.

Carla joined the Teen Town Singers in 1952 when she was only 10 years old. She was able to join because her father, Rufus, worked at the radio station. Being a part of the group was a lot of work. Carla had to go to school and do her homework. Then, she had rehearsals on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Saturdays, she performed live at the station. Even with this busy schedule, Carla loved the experience. She stayed with the Teen Town Singers until she finished high school.

Becoming a Star in the 1960s

Carla Thomas in 1966

Carla Thomas is best known for her music from the 1960s. She worked with two important record companies: Atlantic Records and Stax Records. Her first song, "'Cause I Love You" (1960), was a duet with her father. Her brother Marvell played the keyboards on it. This song was released by Satellite Records, which later became Stax Records.

Carla recorded this song while she was still in high school. It became popular in Memphis. This caught the attention of Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records. He made a deal to help distribute her music. This led to Carla's most famous song, "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)". It reached number 10 on the pop music charts.

Carla had many more hits on the R&B charts in the 1960s. Her only other solo song to reach the top 40 pop hits was "B-A-B-Y" in 1966. She also sang "Tramp" with Otis Redding, which was a big hit. Their album together, King & Queen, was also very popular.

"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)"

"Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" became a top 10 pop song. But it had a slow start. Carla wrote this teen love song when she was only 15. Her father first tried to get it released by another record company, but they didn't follow through. So, in 1960, Carla recorded the song in her family home.

The song was first released in October 1960. It didn't get much attention at first. But by February 1961, Atlantic Records helped distribute it across the country. Carla was in her first year of college when the song became a hit. Its success also led her to perform on the TV show American Bandstand. Carla said she was surprised by how well the song did. This song helped launch Carla's first album and made Stax Records famous.

Later Career: 1970s to Today

After her last recording with Stax in 1971, Carla Thomas was not as famous as she was in the 1960s. But she still worked on many projects. In 1994, a collection of her greatest hits was released. She also had live recordings come out in 2002 and 2007.

Carla toured sometimes in the 1980s. She also became very involved in a program called "Artists in the Schools." This program helped Memphis schoolchildren learn from successful artists. In 1993, Carla received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. This award honored her long and successful music career. She was also in a movie called Only the Strong Survive in 2003. In 2021, Carla sang on a song called "Call Me a Fool" with Valerie June. This song was nominated for a GRAMMY award.

Artistry

Musical Inspirations

Carla's biggest influence was her father, Rufus. He always believed in her singing talent. Carla said, "My dad probably discovered I could sing before I did." He helped her join the Teen Town Singers. He also worked hard to promote her first big song, "Gee Whiz."

Carla was also inspired by other musicians. These included Jackie Wilson and Brenda Lee.

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Carla Thomas has been recognized for her music.

Discography

Carla Thomas released many albums and singles throughout her career.

Studio Albums

• Gee Whiz (1961)
• Comfort Me (1965)
• Carla (1966)
• The Queen Alone (1967)
• Memphis Queen (1969)
• Love Means... (1971)

Live Albums

• Live in Memphis (2002)
• Live at the Bohemian Caverns (2007)

Collaborations

• King & Queen (1967) with Otis Redding

Compilation Albums

• The Best of Carla Thomas (1969)
• Gee Whiz: The Best of Carla Thomas (1994)
• Hidden Gems (2004)

Notable Singles

Some of her most famous songs include:

• "Cause I Love You" (1960) with Rufus Thomas
• "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" (1960)
• "I'll Bring It Home to You" (1962)
• "I've Got No Time to Lose" (1964)
• "Let Me Be Good to You" (1966)
• "B-A-B-Y" (1966)
• "Tramp" (1967) with Otis Redding
• "Knock on Wood" (1967) with Otis Redding
• "I Like What You're Doing to Me" (1969)

See also

In Spanish: Carla Thomas para niños

• Rufus and Carla
• Marvell Thomas