Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
IT’S been 17 years in the making but, finally, American rhythm and blues star Joe Thomas is coming back to Zimbabwe for a one-off musical show.
Joe staged a show in Harare in February, 2008, and just like Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, promised that “I WILL BE BACK.”
Of course, it has taken quite some time but it’s never easy to tie down supestars like Joe for a show and, hopefully, for his fans, it will be worth the wait.
His first show was held at the Harare International Conference Centre and he came here courtesy of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Joe kept it easy when he arrived for his first show in this country.
He chose a camouflaged top and arrived to rupturous cheers from his fans at the Harare International Airport.
“I’m feelin’ great to be here, I wanna go around, meet the people and have fun,” he said.
And, after the business of entertaining the locals was over, Joe said he had enjoyed it so much that he would be back.
That’s what has now just happened with confirmation of his mega show at Old Hararians on August 12.
“ZIMBABWE!!! Coming To Harare! I want To See You! Get Your Tickets!!!” said Joe on Instagram.
And, it has torched a wave of responses from delirious fans.
Oh my goodness – Joe in Zimbabwe – my home country – wish I was home. I used to think I would marry Joe when I grew up lol. – laciclub
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Please don’t let them have JayPrazah open up – no disrespect he is not the man for that job!!!! There are rnb and soul singers in Zimbabwe. This does not need any dancehall openers. Thank you. – daniso_sandie
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You want to see us and we can’t wait to hear you! – jtm_sofine
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Zim loves you fam, ‘‘All that I am’’ was big back in the day. – mikedzina
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Zimbabwe Awaits. – gordon_jayy
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His fans from many other countries, including Australia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, also sent thir responses appealing to him to come and play there.
The local promoters also confirmed he will be playing in Harare.
Walter Wanyanya, of Ngoma Nehosho, a partner in the event, said:
“The show will be held at Old Hararians on August 12, we are only helping them,” said Wanyanya.
Stage manager and events planner Marshal Shonhai also shared the news in a Facebook post.
“Now, this is one gig I’m not going to miss! For those of us who grew up in the late ‘90s into the early 2000s, Joe Thomas is one of the artists we were raised on.
‘‘He’s been a personal favourite of mine for years.
“I’ve seen a few comments online – some folks saying, ‘We should be having Chris Brown instead.’
“But listen, when you grow older and Breezy finally comes to Zim, you’ll understand why we’re excited about Joe’s pending visit to Harare.
“This one is for the grown folks. The lovers. The day ones.
“This is going to be one of those rare shows where you’ll catch me in the audience, just being a fan.
‘‘Big salute to Ngoma Nehosho for pulling this off.”
Joe turned 52 this month.
He signed to Polygram Records in 1992, and rose to prominence after releasing his debut album ‘‘Everything’’ the following year.
He followed it with a series of successful albums under Jive Records, including ‘‘All That I Am’’ (1997), the international bestseller ‘‘My Name Is Joe’’ (2000) as well as the multi-certified albums ‘‘Better Days’’ (2001) and ‘‘And Then . . . ’’ (2003).
Several songs from these albums became hit singles on the pop and R&B record charts, including the number-one hit “Stutter”, the top-ten entries “All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do)”, “Don’t Wanna Be a Player”, and “I Wanna Know” as well as his collaborations “Faded Pictures” and “Thank God I Found You”, the latter of which he performed alongside Mariah Carey, also a number-one hit,and “Still Not a Player”.
Since his departure from Jive, Joe has released most of his projects independently through ventures with Kedar Massenburg and Plaid Takeover Entertainment.
A songwriter and producer, Joe became a frequent collaborator on other artist’s projects in the mid-1990s.
He remixed a duet by Barry White and Tina Turner called “In Your Wildest Dreams” as well as a remix of Turner’s single “Something Beautiful Remains” from her album Wildest Dreams (1996) and wrote and produced on albums by R&B groups Ideal, Xscape and Hi-Five.
Mathew Masinge