Gangsta Rap music forerunner Eddie Thomas returns after over 30 years

CHICAGO, IL. (Thomas Productions, LLC) - Hit maker Eddie Thomas, award winning music promoter and producer is back on the block with two new CD's, I Won't Be Lonely Anymore by the smooth jazz ensemble The E.T.Group, and It's All Right, a collection of moving inspirational songs by Maurice' (and the ET Group) both available now and featured on Apple's iTunes and other major music download websites.

Long before P-Diddy, Shugg Knight, and Snoop Dogg, there was Eddie T. His collaborations with the legendary Curtis Mayfield (1942 to 1999) and the Impressions, produced a string of classic 60's and 70's Soul / R&B hits such as Gypsy Woman, For Your Precious Love, Keep On Pushin, and ultimately the cutting edge soundtrack that started the whole 'Gangsta Rap' music culture, Super Fly.
The raw lyrics touted exploits of an urban ghetto 'hero' whose flamboyant lifestyle of violence, money, fancy cars, drugs and 'bad bitches' formed the genesis of today's Gangsta Rap music. It was highly controversial when the movie was released in the 1972 Black Power and Affirmative Action era.
The movie and soundtrack, was a national phenomenon in the black community and spawned an entire genre of films. 'Controversy aside, you've got to admit, Rap has accomplished in a few short years what civil rights never could, to unite our young people, of all colors, world wide,' says Thomas.

Other artists Eddie has worked with are also music icons, including: Barry White, Bee Gees, Quincy Jones, Lakeside, The Independents and many others. During the Disco years, Eddie founded The Dogs of War, a professional association of 300 of the most popular club DJ's in the Midwest. 'Record companies would give us their new releases. We would introduce them in the clubs as new dance music which would create public demand to hear them on the radio.' Said Thomas

Why get back into the game after 30 years? 'I had to stop for several years to care for my first wife, Audrey who died of cancer in 1996'. 'But I've been keeping up. The music is coming back, and I still have something to say, musically'. says Thomas. His new wife and co-producer Verlene agrees, 'He's active and extremely vibrant for a 72 year old. 'I can't hardly keep up with him'. The two are producing brand new music and have garnered some of the best talent in the business; Mike Logan (pianist/arranger), Khari Parker (Drums), Lamar Jones (Bass), Gerey Johnson (guitar) and John Cocoran (Flute) have played with the likes of Michael and Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, Ramsey Lewis and Nick Colionne. Singer/songwriter Maurice' was a member of the hit group The Independents (Leaving Me).
From Doo-Wop to Hip Hop, from Disco to Digital, 'old dog' Eddie Thomas has some 'new tricks' of his own, to keep his music alive.