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Tracey: Where were your parents born and what were their jobs? Could you share with us a little bit about your family?
Irma Thomas: My parents were born in Louisiana. My mother worked for a telephone company and my dad worked at a steel mill. I am an only child.
Tracey: Allen Toussaint wrote many of your songs. I admire him greatly as a songwriter and continue to come across songs of his, which I love. Are you in contact with him and does he still write/produce songs for you today?
Irma Thomas: I am in contact; we saw each other at the Grammy Awards. Not necessarily writing for me, but I’m sure he would if it became necessary, but we’re not on the same label.
Tracey: During your time in New Orleans, you must have met some of the great Soul and R&B singers in history. I won’t try and pin you down to one, but which ones whom you have met, spring to mind as being particular favourites?
Irma Thomas: I don’t have any in mind that were particular favourites - I liked ‘em all. I’ve been with people in the Rock ‘n’ Roll & Rhythm ‘n’ Blues field and when I got into it, it was in its infancy. I came along early. Before I got into it, it was basically called Soul blues, Rhythm ‘n’ Blues & Rock ‘n’ Roll, they were the only people making any great prize in it. People like Ruth Brown.
Tracey: Do you play any instruments yourself Irma? If not, what would you have liked to have learnt to play.
Irma Thomas: I pick around, a little bit on the piano and I’ve picked up the guitar once or twice & that’s it. With my schedule, being chief cook, bottle washer, Mama, Grandma etc., I really don’t have the dedicated time to be proficient in any of it.
Tracey: New Orleans music has a rich gumbo of influences i.e. Jazz, R&B, Rock ‘n’ Roll & Soul. Did these influence your style or is your sound and style something you feel was always within you?
Irma Thomas: You can take Soul out. Soul is not a category. Soul is a feeling that is all of the above. I don’t know why people make a category out of Soul. It’s not a category. It’s a feeling that’s done. It is something you have within yourself.
Tracey: Do you know of many UK Soul Artists and if so do you have a particular favourite?
Irma Thomas: No (chuckled..)
Tracey: Gospel singing has played a big part in your life. Do you still sing in Church today?
Irma Thomas: Yes, I do, in a church on 3rd Street in New Orleans.
Tracey: In the 70’s, you worked in ‘Montgomery Ward’s’ lingerie & automotive department as a Sales Person. Can you tell me a little bit about this time and did you still continue with singing whilst you did this work?
Irma Thomas: Well, I was doing that work because my singing career was at a part of a standstill and I had a family to support, I had 4 children, who were looking to their Mother to support them. I needed a job, so I went out and got a job. There were genuine things starting to break for me. I did what I needed to do to support my family.
Tracey: Your album “Live! Simply the Best” gained you a Grammy nomination in 1991. It must have been a good time for you & your band (the Professionals). This was one of two Grammy nominations you have had in your career. Can you name some other career highlights, which you have had?
Irma Thomas: It was a good time. I’ve had quite a few. I consider being part of BB Kings population of artists and songs as one, I went on a tour with one of the cigarette companies and got to meet and became very good friends with Ruth Brown and we remain friends today. I’ve looked up to her as a pioneer to getting things done for the Rhythm and Blues industry. I had admired her and finally got the chance to work with her. That was a highlight in my life. I worked with Dolly Parton & did a show with her in New Orleans, that was a big point. I also did the same thing with Bonnie Raitt who was the person who got me back to singing “Time Is On My Side”.
Tracey: You sang “Time Is On My Side” on Jools Holland. I was so glad to hear this song being sung by you, as it is your song.
Irma Thomas: Yes, I did. Well, I don’t know what it’s going to do because whenever you hear it on a commercial or anything, they never use my vocal. Evidently, it couldn’t have been that great. They’d rather get some unknown to do it, as it will cost them less money.
Tracey: Do you have any plans to tour the UK in 2006?
Irma Thomas: Well, if there is someone over there that wants some bookings or to do a tour over there and makes me reasonable offer, I’m available.
Tracey: I saw you perform on Jools Holland on New Year’s Eve and at the end of the set, you said something like “2006 is going to be my year”. Are you still feeling that?
Irma Thomas: Well, it’s living up to it. I’ve just done the Grammy’s and I haven’t done that before. They were doing a tribute to New Orleans and also paid homage to Wilson Pickett who had passed away recently. I was in the area anyway, doing a show for them for a foundation part for the Grammy’s, they invited me over to be a part of the tribute, along with Allen Toussaint & Dr John who are all New Orleans Artists.
Tracey: You have won awards for promoting a positive image of New Orleans. Is this something you still continue to do now?
Irma Thomas: Yes. I think New Orleans is going to come back, but it’s going to take time. But I have a very positive outlook about that. I hope to go back to my home City and I realise it’s going to take time, it’s not going to happen overnight, but never the less, New Orleans is still a City to love and fall in love with.
Tracey: Are you seeing progress with New Orleans?
Irma Thomas: There is some progress, but it is still rather slow.
Tracey: I am aware you have studied for a Business Degree. Did you pass and get your Degree and could you share with us your age when you graduated, to inspire anyone reading this who is maybe thinking of taking up an education in their later years?
Irma Thomas: Yes, I did, it was some time ago in 2001, when I was 60 years old. It took me a long time to do it with touring etc, but I was determined to graduate.
Tracey: Has the degree helped you?
Irma Thomas: Yes, of course it has, it has given me more of an insight into the business than just being in the business.
Tracey: Have you written or thought about writing an autobiography? There must be much to say.
Irma Thomas: Yes, I had started writing it prior to hurricane Katrina and of course that disrupted life. We were asking my fans to send in their favourite Irma Thomas moments because my career has been based on a fan base, which was very, very dedicated. I felt I could not do an autobiography without including some of those comments. So, we had posted release forms to sign, so we could include their comments in the book and have permission to use them. I haven’t given up on the process; it’s just that things have slowed down at the moment due to Katrina.
Tracey: My next questions are around New Orleans and the most recent devastating hurricane and resulting flooding in 2005 (hurricane Katrina). You have lived through two hurricanes, the first being hurricane Camille in 1969. I heard you and your daughter were affected badly by the storms in 2005. How are things for you both now and for the many others who must have lost so much?
Irma Thomas: I have lived through 3 hurricanes actually, one prior to Camille, in 1965 I believe. I am very optimistic about it, I’m not moaning about my losses, because they’re gone. There’s no use worrying about them, as it won’t bring them back. When I did the Grammy’s foundation programme, they gave me back my two Grammy medals that I had lost in the floods. So something good did come out of Katrina, despite of the disaster it created. I have got more attention because of the fact they thought I was gone. I am certainly not looking back saying “Why Me?” There was more than myself affected by that. It brought the attention to the City’s needs. We had been fighting to get the finance for the levies to be re-enforced for years and this just brought it all to the fore. I feel that even though I’ll be 65 next Saturday, I still have a few years left where I will be blessed with a viable career, hopefully adding more memories to the ones I already have.
Tracey: Is it true your records were not damaged in the floods?
Irma Thomas: I had a lot of albums, up high on a shelf which I wasn’t using anymore, but a lot of the albums were issued on CD, which survived. I did manage to find a few pictures that were damaged by the water, but hopefully artists can treat them. I saved a few pictures that weren’t damaged too badly by the water. A few that were on the wall were damaged but I have been told I can have them repaired by an artist. I don’t feel totally lost, but a lot of the irreplaceable things did get lost, but the memories are with me, they will always be there. A lot of my fans are sending photos to me. That is why I feel I can’t write a book without including my fans.
Tracey: You have run a club in New Orleans for many years. If this is being salvaged, when it re-opens, what song would be the first song, which you would sing on the opening night.
Irma Thomas: I would sing whatever I would normally sing. Nothing special, I would do my normal show, if it ever happens. I don’t see that happening soon in that club - maybe another club. The building itself is questionable; we are waiting for a decision from the Landlords as to whether the building is lost. We are at a point in our lives, where we are undecided whether to go back into the bar business.
Tracey: Thank you very much Irma for taking the time out to do this. We are very honoured here at Just Soul to have had the opportunity of doing this interview with someone so highly regarded & respected within the music industry.
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