From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Feb 18, 2002  1:14 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Irma Thomas
 
IRMA THOMAS (Shaun / Dik)

Born Irma Lee, 18 February 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana

The undisputed Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas received her
singing training on Sundays at the Home Mission Baptist Church in New
Orleans, where her parents had moved when she was a baby. Pregnant
at 14 and divorced at 17, her childhood was not particularly easy.
One night in 1959 she threw her apron on the counter and played on stage
with New Orleans rhythm 'n' blues singer Tommy Ridgley and his band.
Ridgley was so impressed that he got her signed to the Ron label, producing
her first hit record, the great "Don't Mess With My Man" (# 22 R&B in 1960).
Her career took on a new impetus when she signed with Minit Records, under
the wing of one of the city's top producers : Allen Toussaint. Her soul
classics from the period included "Ruler of My Heart" and the sublimely
atmospheric "It's Raining". In 1964 Minit was acquired by Imperial, by
then a subsidiary of Liberty. Irma's first record for the label, "Wish
Someone Would Care" was her biggest hit and went to #17 on the pop
charts, followed by three other chart entries (both R&B and pop) in the
same year. One of these was "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is" (# 52),
which is better known for its B-side, "Time Is On My Side". After the cover
version of the Rolling Stones (their first Top 10 hit in the US), she had to
quit singing the song because audiences wouldn't believe it was hers.
After a brief spell with Chess she laid low for a couple of decades
before returning to the scene with a vengeance in the '90's.

Recommended listening;
Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection - Razor & Tie