Tasha Thomas

Tasha Thomas
Tasha Thomas
	Buddha, Roulette

Tasha Thomas (c. 1945 – November 8, 1984) was an American singer and actress, known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of The Wiz. Thomas also had a hit single, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", from her 1979 album, Midnight Rendezvous. Her birthplace is often cited as "Jeutyn, Alaska", though no such town exists.

Music career

Thomas' breakthrough came when she was cast in the original Broadway production of

You Don't Mess Around With Jim. She appears on Slade's 1976 Nobody's Fools LP providing backing vocals on several songs including the title track. Tasha also provided backup vocals on the 1977 Kiss album Love Gun

, as one of the "KISSettes".

In 1978, on the basis of her growing popularity as a singer capable of performing in many different styles and genres, producers James R. Glaser (aka Jimmi Hood) and Peter Rugile signed Thomas to their company, Orbit Record Productions. Her first record release on the producer's

solo album

Midnight Rendezvous.

Recorded in 1979, Midnight Rendezvous included the track, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", which was the biggest hit from the album. The New York Times music critic Robert Palmer, described the song as "...one of the grittiest and most rousing disco records of the year destined to become a classic of erotic dance music."^[1]

Television appearances

Following the success of "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", Thomas was frequently invited to guest star on television music and talk shows, including appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, Soul Train (season 8, episode 32 – air date: March 24, 1979),^[2] The Merv Griffin Show, (season 11, episode 2395) The Midnight Special (season 7, episode 25 – air date: May 4, 1979) and Dance Fever (May 1979).^[2]