Ian Thomas

Profile

In 1973, "Painted Ladies" became an international monster hit for Ian; the song reached No.4 in Canada and No.34 in the United States. He won a Juno Award for 'Most Promising Male Vocalist' that year. Thirty years, Three SOCAN classic awards, a handful of Juno nominations,15 albums and as many top twenty records later, he's still writing and recording successfully with his internationally acclaimed band, The Boomers (three other veteran Canadian musicians - guitarist Bill Dillon (Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell), drummer Rick Gratton (Rough Trade, Marc Jordan) and bassist Peter Cardinali (Rick James, Oscar Peterson). During this period he also produced a two-hour CBC Radio show called "The National Rock Works" which also featured comedy and became a showcase for the talents of his brother Dave Thomas -- future SCTV alumnus.

A recent concert with friends Murray Mclauchlan, Marc Jordan and Cindy Church has been recorded and filmed for a DVD. EMI Canada released the DVD entitled Lunch At Allen's in the spring of 2004, followed by a national concert tour - still going on well into 2005.

Ian's lyrics have been utilized in English textbooks and many international artists have had success with Ian Thomas songs such as Air Supply, Santana, America, Manfred Mann, Chicago, Bette Midler and Ann Murray. Aussie artist Daryl Braithwaite achieved number one down under for 5 weeks with an Ian Thomas song "As The Days Go By" and went top five with another, "All I Do" from the same album.

Ian's songs have been licensed for television uses in programs such as WKRP in Cincinnati, Baywatch, Degrassi High and Leap Years and in feature films such as Peter's Friends, The Philadelphia Experiment, First Born, and Strange Brew.

Ian is also in demand as a film composer and has scored many feature films and TV Movies of the week. To help support his "music habit" Ian has done extensive voice work in cartoons (Ned's Nute, The Dumb Bunnies) and close to a thousand radio and television commercials as everything from the voice of Snap the Rice Crispy to the voice of the Ontario Lottery Corporation. His television appearances have included roles such as insane Scotsman Duncan McTavish on Supertown Challenge (comedy channel) and regular character Dougie Franklin for six years running on the Red Green Show (CBC/PBS).

There are new challenges afoot with a screenplay, one completed novel and another under way. Ian lives with his wife of 33 years in the Niagara wine region of Ontario because he likes both wine and his wife.

Clients Comments

“The feedback was fabulous. Lots of thank-yous from our audience ...just so polished and accomplished … Long standing ovations." Kate Matuszewski, Elliot Lake Entertainment Series