b. Vaneese Yseult Thomas, 1959, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Based in New York, Vaneese established herself as a solo artist in 1987 after signing to Geffen Records for 'Vaneese Thomas'.
vaneese - 1987 / when my back's against the wall - 1998 / talk me down - 2001 / a woman's love - 2003
The album included the tracks 'Let's Talk It Over' and 'New Love'.
Prior to the albums release, Vaneese cut a single for Polydor Records in 1978 entitled 'The Goodbye Song', along with Carolyn Mitchell under the title of Vaneese & Carolyn.
The song fast became highly collectable on the 'rare groove' circuit and appearred on an Expansion Records compilation entitled 'Expansion Soul Source Volume 2'.
Vaneese is one of Rufus Thomas's daughters and her sister is Carla Thomas.
She made her recording debut, as a five year old, on Carla's track 'A Boy Named Tom' in 1964.
She has sung with many various stars ranging from Eric Clapton to Luther Vandross.
Her C.V. includes extensive radio and television credits and she owns a record label, a recording facility, and two publishing companies.
Vaneese also, at one time, lived in France for a time and actually taught French as a schoolteacher.
As a session singer she has recorded with Bob James ('Obsession', on which she co-wrote 'Gone Hollywood' with Lenny White), Lenny White ('Attitude'), Montana ('I Love Music'), Carl Anderson (duetting on 'It's The Love' from his 'On And On' outing, 1984), Freddie Jackson ('Just Like The First Time'), Beau Williams (writing / producing 'I Found A Love'), Melba Moore ('I'II Never Find Another You' and 'Stay') and Sarah Dash (writing 'To Tell You The Truth').
Vaneese released a gospel outing entitled 'When My Back's Against The Wall' in 1998.
She utilised some of the finest studio musicians in the New York area and guests artists included Kirk Whalum (Sax) and Luther Vandross (background vocals).
That same year, Vaneese was one of three featured vocalists who played the part of Muses in the animated Walt Disney movie 'Hercules'.
In 2001, she returned with the album 'Talk Me Down'.
The album was released on the Unleashthe80's record label and featured 'The Magic Of You', 'Sweet Breath Of Life' and 'Fortunate' with featured artistic input provided by Kirk Whalum, Bob Baldwin, Patti Austin, Sharon Bryant, Cynthia Biggs, Fonzi Thornton and James 'D-Train' Williams, no less.
soul sister vol. 1 - 2009 / the long journey home - 2016
Albums:
Vaneese Thomas (Geffen Records 1987)
When My Back's Against The Wall (Unleashthe80's Records 1998)
Talk Me Down (Unleashthe80's Records 2001)
A Woman's Love (Segue Records 2003)
Soul Sister Vol. 1 (Segue Records 2009)
The Long Journey Home (Segue Records 2016)
