Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
RENOWNED American R&B singer, songwriter and producer, Joe Thomas, is set to perform in Zimbabwe on August 12 at Old Hararians Sports Club, according to an events management expert.
This concert will mark Joe Thomas’ return to Zimbabwe for the second time, following his visit in 2008, which was organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Walter Wanyanya, of Ngoma Nehosho, a partner in the event, has confirmed the American artist’s participation.
“The show will be held at Old Hararians on August 12, we are only helping them,” said Wanyanya, without giving more details.
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.”
Born Joseph Lewis Thomas on July 5, 1973, the American R&B singer, 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.
