Joe (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe
Joe performing in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Lewis Thomas
Born	(1973-07-05) July 5, 1973 (age 52) Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Opelika, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Plaid Takeover BMG Massenburg Media Kedar 563 Island Jive PolyGram Mercury
Associated acts	Case Profyle Kedar Massenberg Michele Williams

Joseph Lewis Thomas (born July 5, 1973), who is known by his stage name Joe, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. He became famous in the 1990s for his smooth R&B music.

Joe signed with a record label in 1992 and released his first album, Everything, the next year. He became even more popular with albums like All That I Am (1997) and the worldwide hit My Name Is Joe (2000). Many of his songs became big hits, including "Stutter", "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)", and "I Wanna Know".

He also worked with other famous artists. He sang with Mariah Carey on the song "Thank God I Found You", which went to number one on the music charts. He was also featured on the popular song "Still Not a Player" with rapper Big Pun.

Over his long career, Joe has released many successful albums. In 2010, Billboard magazine named him one of the Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists of the last 25 years. He has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and has won other awards for his music.

Growing Up

Joe was born on July 5, 1973, in Columbus, Georgia. His parents were both evangelist preachers. When he was young, his family moved to Opelika, Alabama. He graduated from Opelika High School in 1991. From a young age, he was involved with music, often singing in church.

Music Career

Starting Out in the 90s

After high school, Joe moved to New Jersey to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He worked in a gospel record store and continued to sing and write songs. He met producer Vincent Herbert and recorded a demo tape with three of his songs.

This demo helped him get a contract with PolyGram Records in 1992. His first album, Everything, came out in 1993. It included the hit single "I'm in Luv," which was very popular on R&B radio stations.

In 1996, his song "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" was featured on a movie soundtrack. The song was a big success and was included on his second album, All That I Am (1997). This album was his big break, selling over a million copies in the United States. Another hit from the album, "Don't Wanna Be a Player", was also on a movie soundtrack.

During the late 1990s, Joe also worked with many other artists. He wrote and produced songs for groups like Xscape and Hi-Five. He also sang background vocals on the song "Angel in Disguise" from Brandy's album Never Say Never.

Becoming a Star in the 2000s

In 2000, Joe released his third album, My Name Is Joe. It was a huge success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album had three hit singles: "I Wanna Know", "Treat Her Like a Lady", and "Stutter". "Stutter" became his biggest solo hit, reaching number one on the charts. The album sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone.

His next album, Better Days (2001), was also successful. It featured the popular song "Let's Stay Home Tonight". The album earned him another Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album.

In 2003, he released And Then.... The album included the song "Ride Wit U", which featured the rap group G-Unit. This song was a hit in the United Kingdom and Australia.

His sixth album, Ain't Nothin' Like Me, came out in 2007. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured collaborations with famous rappers like Nas and Fabolous. This was his last album with Jive Records.

Making Music on His Own

After leaving Jive Records, Joe started releasing his music independently. His 2008 album, Joe Thomas, New Man, still reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. He followed it up with Signature in 2009, an album of ballads that he wrote and produced himself.

Over the next few years, Joe continued to release new music. His album Doubleback: Evolution of R&B (2013) went to number one on the R&B/Hip Hop chart. It featured a duet called "Love & ..." with singer Fantasia.

In 2016, he released My Name Is Joe Thomas, which was a tribute to his most famous album. The album's single, "So I Can Have You Back", became his fourth number-one hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart. This meant he had a number-one hit in three different decades: the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

Discography

Studio albums

• Everything (1993)
• All That I Am (1997)
• My Name Is Joe (2000)
• Better Days (2001)
• And Then... (2003)
• Ain't Nothin' Like Me (2007)
• Joe Thomas, New Man (2008)
• Signature (2009)
• Home Is the Essence of Christmas (2010)
• The Good, the Bad, the ... (2011)
• Doubleback: Evolution of R&B (2013)
• Bridges (2014)
• My Name Is Joe Thomas (2016)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Joe (cantante) para niños