Joe

Joseph Lewis Thomas, known professionally as Joe, was born on July 5, 1973, in Columbus, Georgia. Raised by evangelist preachers, he relocated to Opelika, Alabama, during his childhood and completed his education at Opelika High School in 1991. After graduation, Joe continued to develop his music career while working various temporary jobs. His dedication led him to meet producer Vincent Herbert in New Jersey, where he recorded a three-song demo tape. This demo led to a contract with PolyGram Records in 1992, subsequently releasing his debut album, “Everything,” in 1993. The album featured singles “I’m in Luv” and “The One for Me,” with the former becoming a top ten hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Joe achieved significant commercial success after signing with Jive Records. His 1996 contribution “All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do)” to “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” soundtrack became a hit, reaching number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This success was followed by his second studio album, “All That I Am” (1997), which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the US. A notable collaboration came in 1999 when Mariah Carey featured Joe on her track “Thank God I Found You” from her album “Rainbow.” This song became Joe’s first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The early 2000s saw Joe release his most commercially successful album, “My Name Is Joe” (2000). This album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, achieving triple-platinum status in the US. It featured hit singles “I Wanna Know” and “Stutter,” both of which reached the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100. Over his career, Joe has received seven Grammy Award nominations and multiple other accolades, including an ASCAP Award for “I Wanna Know.” He has transitioned to independent releases since his departure from Jive, continuing to produce music that consistently charts, with his twelfth album, “My Name Is Joe Thomas” (2016), becoming his eleventh album to score a top five-placing on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.