He was born with the name Joseph Lewis Thomas, but these days, he’s known as just Joe. Like Madonna and Cher, he’s just Joe.
He was born in Columbus, and says, “Columbus played a big part of my life.”
His father worked for Tom’s Foods for many years before becoming a minister and evangelist.
The family settled in Opelika for a while, where Joe attended Opelika High School.
“I came back to Columbus, and left to go to New York,” he said. “That’s an amazing story for me.”
Joe’s story
That amazing story includes working in a gospel record store and being “discovered” by a music producer who recorded Joe singing three songs. Joe used that recording to knock on doors, eventually getting signed to Polygram/Mercury in 1993.
“It was persistence and believing in yourself. If you do that, you can go far.”
It was his fourth album in 2000 on Jive Records, “My Name Is Joe,” that got him national attention. It was his most successful, selling three million copies.
Now 38, Joe is still recording and performing. He’s currently recording on an independent label.
His parents, Marie and Joe Thomas, now live in Phenix City, where he says “they love it.” They have a church in Louisville, Ala.
“They go in the trenches and try to make a difference,” Joe said of his parents.
He has two brothers, including one who is in sales and marketing for the Universal Group, and three sisters.
“I come to Atlanta a lot,” he said. “I see a lot of friends from high school.”
In fact, it was 1997 when he was the headliner at the Family Day in the Park.
“I was in many talent shows (growing up in the area),” Joe said. “It’s always exciting and fun to perform at home. It’s been a while.”
During Saturday’s show, he’ll do old songs and new ones, too.
Joe’s projects
On the indie label, he released “A New Man” in 2009 and “Signature” in 2010.
He’s got a track, “Closer,” on the T.D. Jakes “Sacred Love Songs 2” CD. His music can also be heard in the movie, “Jumping the Broom.”
“I never saw that one coming,” he said of being on the movie soundtrack. “It’s always a blessing.”
Joe is now trying cooking.
“I’m trying to work myself in the kitchen,” he said. It’s great that he can call on his family for recipes.
“I’ll call them up and say, ‘What’s with that peach cobbler’.”
Growing older is something he’s embracing.
“There are good things going on around me,” Joe said. “There’s a sweet balance in my life.”
