Irma Thomas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Irma Thomas
Thomas in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Irma Lee
Also known as	Soul Queen of New Orleans
Born	(1941-02-18) February 18, 1941 (age 84) Ponchatoula, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	New Orleans R&B soul blues gospel pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1959–present
Labels	Minit Imperial Chess Rounder Maison de Soul

Irma Thomas (born February 18, 1941) is an American singer from New Orleans. She is often called the "Soul Queen of New Orleans" because of her amazing voice and long career.

Irma Thomas is a famous singer, like Aretha Franklin and Etta James. In 2007, she won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for her album After the Rain. This was her first Grammy, and it came after more than 50 years of singing!

Life and Music Career
- Artists Irma Thomas Has Worked With
- Musicians Who Influenced Irma Thomas
Filmography
Images for kids
See also

Life and Music Career

Irma Lee was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States. Her father, Percy Lee, worked with steel, and her mother, Vader Lee, was a maid. When she was a teenager, Irma sang in her Baptist church choir. She even tried out for a record company when she was only 13 years old.

By the time she was 19, she had four children. She worked as a waitress in New Orleans and sometimes sang with a bandleader named Tommy Ridgley. He helped her get her first record deal. Her first song, "Don't Mess with My Man," came out in 1959. It became a hit, reaching number 22 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The R&B chart lists the most popular rhythm and blues songs.

Irma then started recording with the Minit label. She worked with a famous songwriter and producer named Allen Toussaint. Together, they made popular songs like "It's Raining" and "Ruler of My Heart." Another singer, Otis Redding, later sang "Ruler of My Heart" and called it "Pain in My Heart."

In 1963, Imperial Records bought Minit. Irma released more successful songs, including "Wish Someone Would Care." This was her biggest national hit. The other side of that record was "Breakaway," which was written by Jackie DeShannon.

Another well-known song, "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," was written by a young Randy Newman. This song has become popular again because it has been used in many episodes of the TV show Black Mirror. The other side of that record was "Time Is on My Side." This song was also recorded by the famous band Rolling Stones.

Irma's first four songs with Imperial Records were popular on the pop music charts. However, her later songs were not as successful. She recorded for Chess Records in 1967–1968 and had some success. Her version of Otis Redding's song "Good to Me" reached the R&B chart. She later moved to California and then returned to Louisiana. In the early 1980s, she opened her own music club called the Lion's Den Club.

The 1986 movie Down by Law used Irma's song "It's Raining" in its soundtrack. The actors in the movie, Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, danced to the song.

After some time away from recording, Irma signed with Rounder Records. In 1991, she was nominated for her first Grammy Award for her album Live! Simply the Best. She then released several gospel albums, which are religious songs, along with other types of music. Her album Sing It! was nominated for a Grammy in 1999.

Irma Thomas continued to perform in 2021. She often appears at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every year. She was also the Queen of the Krewe du Vieux for the 1998 New Orleans Mardi Gras season. Her own music club closed because of Hurricane Katrina. She had to move away from New Orleans for a while but returned to her home by 2008.

Thomas appearing with James Taylor and others in 2008

Irma Thomas was featured in the 2005 movie Make It Funky!. This movie tells the story of New Orleans music. In the film, she sang "Old Records" with Allen Toussaint.

In April 2007, Irma Thomas was honored for her music in Louisiana. She was added to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Also in 2007, she sang "I Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind" with Marcia Ball for a tribute album to Fats Domino. That same year, she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for After the Rain.

In August 2009, a special album called The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary Celebration was released. It had three new songs and celebrated her 50 years as a recording artist.

Irma Thomas was also featured on the poster for the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. In 2010, she rode in the New Orleans parade "Grela." She also performed in Australia that year and again in 2011 at the Byron Bay Bluesfest.

In 2013 and 2014, Irma Thomas won the "Soul Blues Female Artist" award at the Blues Music Awards. In 2018, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the Americana Music Honors & Awards.

On May 2, 2024, Irma Thomas performed with the Rolling Stones at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She sang a duet of her 1964 hit song "Time Is On My Side" with Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones also recorded this song shortly after her version came out. This was the first time Irma Thomas and the Rolling Stones performed together!