(September 17, 2019) Lillo Thomas, like all people, has lived a life comprised of many chapters. The major difference is that as an athlete and singer, Thomas’ successes and setbacks play out in the public sphere. Thomas’ originally came to the public’s attention as a world class track athlete. Thomas set a world record in the 200 meters at age 16, qualified for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and likely would have won a gold medal. However, a car accident ended his Olympic dreams.
That setback became the setup for Thomas’ comeback as a charting R&B singer rather than a runner. Thomas scored several Top 40 R&B hits between 1983 and 1987, with the sleek, synth funk cut “I’m In Love” reaching number 2 on the R&B charts in 1987. Thomas continued making music in the 1990s and 2000s.
(September 17, 2019) Lillo Thomas, like all people, has lived a life comprised of many chapters. The major difference is that as an athlete and singer, Thomas’ successes and setbacks play out in the public sphere. Thomas’ originally came to the public’s attention as a world class track athlete. Thomas set a world record in the 200 meters at age 16, qualified for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and likely would have won a gold medal. However, a car accident ended his Olympic dreams.
That setback became the setup for Thomas’ comeback as a charting R&B singer rather than a runner. Thomas scored several Top 40 R&B hits between 1983 and 1987, with the sleek, synth funk cut “I’m In Love” reaching number 2 on the R&B charts in 1987. Thomas continued making music in the 1990s and 2000s.
As a Native New Yorker, it might be surprising to some that Thomas embraced more of a southern soul style as he became an industry veteran. However, that is the direction that Thomas pursued starting with his 1993 single “Out There Doing Wrong,” a track that was his take on the story of a straying man who realized that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Thomas remains in that lane on his latest single “Drinkin.” The song finds Thomas questioning the choices that his ex-lady made when chose to share a few drinks, among other things, with somebody else. Check out “Drinkin” here.
By Howard Dukes
Lillo Thomas - "Drinkin"