Robert Kelly Thomas (born February 14, 1972, in Landstuhl, West Germany in a US military base) is an American rock recording artist, and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty and formerly of the band Tabitha's Secret. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist. Thomas earned three Grammy awards for co-writing and singing on the Carlos Santana triple-platinum hit "Smooth" on the album Supernatural in 1999.

He has also lent his songwriting talents to such artists as Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Marc Anthony, Pat Green, Taylor Hicks, Travis Tritt and Daughtry.

Since 1996, his band, Matchbox Twenty, has released a string of hit singles to radio including "Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World", "Back 2 Good", "Bent", "If You're Gone", "Mad Season", "Disease", "Unwell", "Bright Lights", and "How Far We've Come". In 2004, the Songwriters Hall of Fame awarded Thomas its first Starlight Award, recognizing young songwriters who have already made a lasting impact in the music industry.

Solo career

On April 19, 2005, he released a solo album, …Something to Be. This marked the first time a male artist from a rock and/or pop group has debuted at number one with his first solo album since the Billboard Top 200 was introduced 50 years ago. His first single off that album, "Lonely No More", reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single debuted in the Top 10 of the Australian ARIAnet singles chart on the week of April 4, 2005. The second single, "This Is How a Heart Breaks", (used during a majority of telecasts for ABC's coverage of the NBA Playoffs), was not as successful, but the third single, "Ever The Same", went gold and became a top-five Adult Contemporary hit.

On July 2, 2005, Thomas appeared at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. Rob also appeared on the September 10, 2005, 'MTV Katrina Relief Concert'.

On October 5, 2005, he started his first solo tour backed by a band of talented musicians. In the summer of 2006, Thomas toured with Jewel and Toby Lightman.

In September 2006, ABC started using his song "Streetcorner Symphony" in promotional ads for its Thursday night lineup of Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Six Degrees.

Thomas did a Pre-Grammy performance of "Harder to Breathe" with Maroon 5.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCo48ykUs1c]

In January 2007, Thomas released a single entitled "Little Wonders" from the soundtrack to the Disney animated feature, Meet the Robinsons. As of April 22, 2007, "Little Wonders" has reached #5 on the Mediabase Hot Adult Contemporary chart. In 2007, Thomas and his recently reunited band Matchbox Twenty released another album entitled Exile on Mainstream.

Thomas was featured on the June 14, 2007, episode of the long-running PBS series Soundstage.

Thomas is expected to release his second studio album sometime in 2008.

Private Life

Discography

Albums

• 2005 …Something to Be (2005) #1 U.S. (RIAA Certification: Platinum, Sales: 1.4 million), #1 Australia, #11 UK (Worldwide Sales: 3 million +)
• Something More (EP) (2005)
• iTunes Originals - Rob Thomas

Singles

See also

• Matchbox Twenty
• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References

External links

• Official website
• Rob Thomas HQ - Official Rob Thomas Fan Club
• The official matchbox twenty website
• MB20 Plus Fan Site
• Rob Thomas at the Internet Movie Database
• Interview with Rob Thomas
• The Official British Rob Thomas website