Timothy E. Thomas (born November 13, 1944) is an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".
Thomas first attracted interest in his work as an accompanist with Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley, before working as a session musician in Memphis, Tennessee, and releasing singles on the Goldwax Records label. He had little solo success until he moved to Glades Records in Miami, Florida, and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together". The record topped the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, made the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. This disc sold over two million copies.
Born in Evansville, Indianna, Timmy got his professional start in Memphis, Tennessee as a session player. Starting as a 18-year old college freshman at Lane College, Timmy laid down keyboards for sessions at Sun and Stax Studios in Memphis and FAME studios in Muscle Shoals. Timmy parlayed his session work into live gigs as a sideman for R&B legends The Mar-Keys and as full member of Goldwax recording artist Phillip And The Faithfuls, releasing records including "Love Me", "What'Cha Gonna Do" and "'If You Love Her" (all in 1964).
He then became a session musician in Memphis, continuing to release solo sides for Goldwax, including "Have Some Boogaloo". He also released "It's My Life" in 1967. In 1970, he had switched labels to the Climax imprint and one side called "What's Bothering Me". Relocating to Miami, Florida, in 1972, Thomas played sessions for the TK group labels, signing to the Glades Records imprint, where, later that year, he released "Why Can't We Live Together".
Thomas followed up the release with "People Are Changin'" (B-side "Rainbow Power") which reached the charts in 1973. In 1974, he released the album You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing. He went on to release six further Glades singles and then, in 1975 recorded a duet with Betty Wright entitled "It's What They Can't See".
From 1976 through 1980, Thomas recorded singles for both the Glades imprint and the T.K. Disco label, including "Stone to the Bone", "Africano", "Touch to Touch", "The Magician", "Freak In, Freak Out" and "Drown in My Own Tears" and the albums The Magician (Glades, 1976) and Touch to Touch (Glades, 1977). He also continued to work on sessions for TK Records artists, including Gwen McCrae, and in later years as a producer.
Thomas went on to record several R&B hits culminating in "Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)", a U.S. top 30 soul entry in 1984 for Gold Mountain Records. Thomas appeared on Nicole McCloud's 1985 album What About Me?, singing on a duet with her called "New York Eyes". This track reached number 41 in the UK.
In the 1990s, he worked as a producer for LaFace Records and released the album With Heart and Soul for DTM Records. In 1994 he was invited by Nelson Mandela to sing “Why Can’t We Live Together” at his inauguration. Timmy was also a featured vocalist on the Blue Eyed soul singer Joss Stone's 'The Soul Sessions' album in 2003.
In August 2015, Timmy signed with Miami Soul label Overtown Records. Two days later he found out Drake had sampled "Why Can't We Live Together" in his latest single “Hotline Bling” and was climbing the charts at home in the US and around the Globe. The sudden recognition and following media frenzy relaunched Timmy Thomas before he had a chance to record one new note with his still-powerful voice. NPR profiled Timmy and testified to his classic hit's staying power and relevance in 2015: "Timmy's song resonates now more than ever-ever..."
2016 found Timmy Thomas releasing a new single for Overtown Records/Saustex Media titled "On These Wings Of Change". In 2017 although living in Miami, he returned to his birthplace in Evansville to give a Welcome Home Concert. He was also invited as a guest to the 2017 BMI RnB/Hi-Hop and RnB Awards at The Woodruff Arts Center where he received an award due to the success of Drake’s Hotline Bling. Timmy was was greeted by Ayo & Teo at the arrival and then in attendance on the red carpet.
The latest press release I can find is from 2018 when Timmy collaborated with author John Capouya in a concert of music and readings at the University of Tampa.
(Edited from Wikipedia, Saustex, Courier and Press & Alive Tampa Bay)