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Irma Thomas
Nicknamed the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas's sultry voice and sassy
persona made her an institution in the US R&B scene for over 50 years - a diva
who influenced the likes of Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Beyoncé. Married
twice and with four children by the time she was just 19, Thomas sang in gospel
choirs as a child before getting her break with Tommy Ridgley's big band and
making her solo debut with the raunchy R&B hit (You Can Have My Husband But)
Don't Mess With My Man in 1960. Allen Toussaint produced her early singles Girl
Needs Boy and Ruler Of My Heart (later...
