The “Golden Hits Of The 70s”
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TIMMY THOMAS
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“WHY CAN’T WE LIVE TOGETHER”
(TIMMY THOMAS)
Glades 1703
No. 3 February 10, 1973
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“I was born in Evansville, Indiana, on the 13th of November, 1944,” Timmy Thomas told Blues & Soul. “By
the time I was 10, I was playing organ at my father’s church. I always had a good ear for music. I was one
of 12 kids and most of them were into music, but I guess I pushed a little harder.”
Timmy formed his first band in high school. In 1962, he won a scholarship to attend the Stan Kenton Jazz
Clinic. There he studied with CANNONBALL ADDERLEY, Donald Byrd, and Woody Herman. “When I
got a scholarship to attend Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, I started messing with a lot of the dudes
who were into a soul thing. I started getting session work with Stax, and I played on a lot of Stax/Volt
Records. I played with the MAR-KEYS, filling in when Booker T took leave.”
Thomas also worked as a house musician for Bobby Russell’s and Quinton Claunch’s Goldwax label.
Timmy’s keyboards accompanied James Carr, Percy Milem, Spencer Wiggins, and O. V. Wright.
Impressed with his abilities, Russell and Claunch let Thomas, with the aid of Willie Mitchell’s band,
record two solo singles–“Have Some Boogaloo” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” Neither gathered
much notice.
When Goldwax shut its doors, Tim returned to college to complete his musical studies. In 1970, he moved
to Miami, took a teaching position with Florida Memorial College, and opened a lounge in the beach area.
Thomas would often provide entertainment at his bar. One tune in particular was getting quite a
reaction. Once all the wrinkles were ironed out, Thomas walked “Why Can’t We Live Together” into
Henry Stone’s offices at TK Records.
“Why Can’t We” has got to be one of the most memorable of all hits from the ’70s–and one of the simplest.
With its cheesy organ, a rhythm box ticking out a metronome beat, and Timmy sincerely sobbin’ about
peace, love, and the brotherhood of man, the disk was effective and sold several million copies. The
follow-up, “People Are Changin”‘ (#75, 1973), did fair; in all, 13 of his singles made the R & B listings from
1973 to 1984, with “Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After)” (#80; R&B: #29, 1980) also scoring on the
Hot 100.
Until TK Records went under in 1980, Tim provided back-up services for K. C. & The Sunshine Band, Betty
Wright, and others. In 1984, prior to her ground-breaking hit “Smooth Operator,” the Nigerian-born Sade
tastefully worked up a rendition of Timmy’s tune. Into the ’90s, Thomas ran his lounge and recorded for
Gold Mountain Records.