Biography - the story thus far...

When asked in a recent interview who he believes has been the most influential artist, post Rat Pack era, to bring Swing

music back to the forefront, Adam replies simply "Harry."

“Harry (Connick, Jr.) has always been there in the background, throughout all of the ‘cool - not cool’ phases that Swing and Jazz music tend to go through. He’s always striving for original 'Swing' music.”

Adam's love affair with Swing music began whilst watching "When Harry Met Sally" (Connick penned the soundtrack!)

"Ten Harry Connick, Jr albums later and then I found Frank, Dino and Sammy with their good old friends Mr. Bennett, Torme, Nat and Bobby. They in turn brought along Matt Monro, Louis, Ella, The Duke, Jack Jones and sooo many others! Did these people do anything other than sing each and every day of their lives? I'm glad I started singing... I really needed to start paying for all those records!"

Adam Thomas, born 8th July 1980 in Leicester, has always been musically minded. His father is a professional musician/vocalist and has always been a figure that Adam aspired to be. “My Dad can sing pretty much anything. I’d like for him to record his version of ‘Hey There Lonely Girl’ someday, it really is amazing!

Adam goes on to describe his rather bizarre first brush with performing: "My first vocal performance was to one hundred and fifty, very appreciative, polite – wait for it - ninety year olds in a school Music Hall performance on Memorial Sunday! I think I sang ‘Down at the Old Bull and Bush’! Not cool but I obviously enjoyed it… that's the scary part!"

Adam’s style and persona draw you in and, although his studio recordings are excellent, his live performances are what really make this young swinger stand out from the crowd. Energy abounds from all over the stage with witty, interactive exchanges, constant performance, off the cuff dance moves and an evident, genuine love for what he does, which soon has you feeling exactly the same way. His shows are an assault on the emotions. This is obviously something that Adam is conscious off as he confides: “I don’t believe that there should be any grey areas – if it’s a sad song let’s get taken away by it, if it’s a swinger let’s really sing it, smash it, bounce and swing!” And it’s this approach to live entertainment that has seen Adam perform with the best in the business and, at times, outshine them! He is no stranger to celebrity and sporting charity events and seems to be one of those people that are loved by audiences and peers alike: a rare thing in the age of the diva.

Adam’s vocals are unquestionably distinctive, yet he’s the first to admit that he does tend to lean towards the artists themselves in some songs. He almost mimics them, in the most flattering of ways. “I’ve sung for so long in theatre production shows that it was very hard for me to find my own voice again!”

With over twenty production shows under his belt and having performed in various venues all over the world, Adam’s done everything from hotel lounges with three dancers to world class theatres with thirty dancers. He could be forgiven for losing his enthusiasm for, what should be, a bind for him by now. Contrarily, I believe that it is this experience that has helped him to mature into the class act that we see today. In fact his enthusiasm seems to be a large part of his charm.

So with all of the endless swing/Rat Pack covers and tributes in recent times, is it now getting out of hand?

"A lot of the more cynical lovers of this music believe that the endless covers are getting out of hand. I suppose that's true to an extent, but then I wouldn't want this music to be locked in a cupboard somewhere either. I think that if it raises the awareness of the songs or the genre then, no matter how contrived, it’s a good thing. Maybe the listener will seek out the original and discover even more songs!”

Are there any artists that stand out today?

"I think Jamie Cullum is extremely talented and very 'true' to the music he loves. I went to see Michael Bublé last year and thought he was brilliant, yet not for the reasons I thought he would be! Great voice, as expected, but the guy is really very funny and, more than anything, he breaks down the cool, sophisticated demeanor usually associated with swing and lays on a really relaxed show. Granted, some of the lines are repeated in other concerts but, hey, we've all got an act!"

Having studied performing arts for four years in Leicester, Adam then "moved into the real world of show business... by working on cruise liners for the next two years!” Adam’s next project was... to create "the complete production company" - Mondiale Entertainment. The company was formed on the belief that production shows were lacking innovative, eye-catching ideas and required a more modern approach. Mondiale is still going strong to this day and, with Sarah Ludden-Roughley now at the helm, they have gone from strength to strength.

Performing overseas for so many years, Adam can now enjoy being back in the UK: “being home means that I can finally get creative. The thing is, people always think that I’m mad to come back here. To leave those idyllic places behind seems like madness to them but I truly believe that the grass is always greener. Of course I miss travelling but there simply aren’t the musicians or resources overseas that we have here in the UK.”

Following Adam’s first two releases, his next installment promises to be even more exciting and a whole lot more fun: “This one will be the best yet. I have really taken my time in choosing the songs, the musicians, the studio, everything. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this one - Frank’s “Mr. Success,” Mel Torme’s “Don’t Mean A Thing” and “The Bare Necessities” are on there and it’s gonna be FUN!” Adam starts recording at the end of February this year, with the show rehearsals starting late March and a CD and live DVD following in late summer ’10.

He seems excited at this forthcoming workload and, from his performance and his interview, it strikes me that this is a passion rather than a job for him: something very few of us have the fortune to combine. I don’t think the realization that this is a blessing evades Adam: if I’m any judge of character then this down-to-earth performer knows exactly how lucky he is and seems to be prepared to pair that luck with a lot of hard work to achieve success. And who deserves it more than him? He tells me that he believes in “the right place at the right time. All you can do is get your product ready to sell and, hopefully, somebody will want to buy it. Ultimately, I make music that I would like to listen to and only hope that others like it too.”

As I leave the interview with his CD in my hand, I count myself ‘in’ as loving what he does. With an attitude and talent like his, I see few disappointments ahead for Mr. Thomas and only hope that the UK can recognize the talent that lies within this young performer: we have unearthed a true gem.

Reagan Rands, South Africa, Jan ’08.