Keith Thomas (record producer)

Keith Thomas, born and raised in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, Georgia, is a Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter with 40 #1 Billboard hits. His production and artist management company, Levosia Entertainment, is currently in Nashville, Tennessee.

Biography

Born and raised in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, GA., Thomas was singing lead for his father's gospel group by the age of nine. His ability as a keyboard player led him, while still in High School, to recording sessions in Atlanta studios. Here he came to the attention of country superstar Ronnie Milsap.

Thomas moved to Nashville as Ronnie's first staff writer for Milsap's newly formed publishing company, Ronjoy Music. Shortly thereafter, Thomas signed on with Word Records and began a seven-year tenure as their staff writer and producer. During this time, Thomas produced over 16 albums for various artists earning over 20 #1 singles.

Encouraged by this success, Thomas left Word and founded his own publishing and production company, Yellow Elephant Music, and began writing and producing music for BeBe & CeCe Winans. During their four album collaboration, the three sold over 3 million albums and had nine top 30 singles, six of which went top 10 and two of which went #1. As a result of this relationship, BeBe & CeCe earned four Grammy awards, an additional Grammy nomination, and five Dove awards.

In 1991, Thomas crossed over into the world of mainstream pop when he partnered with longtime friend Amy Grant to garner their first #1, Top 40 hit, "Baby Baby." At the same time, Thomas focused his talents on former Miss America, soon to become international pop and movie star, Vanessa Williams. He wrote and produced five tracks on her Comfort Zone album including the #1 hit, "Save the Best for Last". These two #1 songs with Grant and Williams earned Thomas Grammy nominations for Producer of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.

Responding to the momentum created by this success, Thomas acquired The Bennett House recording complex in Franklin, TN. Twenty minutes from downtown Nashville, The Bennett House not only accommodates Thomas' personal project studio and administrative offices but also offers outside clients a 19th-century recording environment that is unique in the Nashville music scene.

Christening the move into The Bennett House, Thomas turned his attention again to Amy Grant by writing and producing for her House of Love album. This album boasted several hits for Thomas including the songs, "Lucky One," and the title track, "House of Love." Thomas produced the song "The Sweetest Days" for Vanessa Williams as well as records for James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, Deborah Cox, Regina Belle and Wendy Moten. In 1995, Thomas wrote and produced the hit song, "I Could Fall In Love," for Selena. Selena thus became the first artist to place both a Spanish- and an English-language song in the top 10 of the Hot Latin Tracks chart. "I Could Fall in Love" became the fifth best-charting song from that chart in 1995 and remained the highest-charting English-language song for two years, until Celine Dion's 1998 single "My Heart Will Go On" surpassed it when it peaked at number 1. The album, Dreaming Of You, on which "I Could Fall In Love" appears, has now been certified 35x platinum. That year Thomas also produced Williams' Academy Award winning single, "Colors of the Wind," for the multi-platinum selling motion picture soundtrack, Pocahontas.

In 1997, Thomas completed tracks for Grant's next album, Behind The Eyes and Williams' follow up album, Next. He also produced records for Michael Bolton, Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, Tamia and Puff Johnson.

In early 1998, Thomas produced several songs for Williams and Jon Secada for the movie, Dance with Me. He also produced the track, "I Do (Cherish You)," for 98°'s multi-platinum album on Universal Records, 98° and Rising. The song was also featured in the Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant romantic comedy, Notting Hill. In addition, Thomas was nominated for a Grammy for Producer of the Year for the 1998 Grammy awards.

In late 1998, Thomas served as the principle Producer and co-Executive Producer for the multi-artist Touched By An Angel album featuring songs inspired by the popular television series. On this project, Thomas worked with Deana Carter, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Uncle Sam and Wynonna.

Early in 1999, Thomas produced the track "Precious Wings" on MJJ artist Tatyana Ali for the Disney movie, Fantasia 2000. During that year he also produced tracks for Yolanda Adams, Wild Orchid and Vanessa Williams. Thomas also produced the song, "You're Where I Belong," for Trisha Yearwood for the movie, Stuart Little.

In early 2000, Thomas wrote and produced the hit song, "I Wanna Be With You," for Mandy Moore. The song was featured in the Columbia Pictures film, Center Stage.

After a three year hiatus at the turn of the millennium, in 2005 Thomas formed Levosia Entertainment, with an emphasis on developing young undiscovered talent. His initial discovery, Jordan Pruitt, he signed with Hollywood Records, and in conjunction with the release of her debut album, No Ordinary Girl, Jordan opened for numerous Disney sponsored concert tours, including High School Musical: The Concert, The Cheetah Girls and Demo Lovato.

Thomas next became aware of a young YouTube sensation, Savannah Outen. Her three singles released to Radio Disney, "Goodbyes", "If You Only Knew" and "Fighting For My Life", received unprecedented airplay for an independent label artist, twice beating out The Jonas Brothers and The High School Musical for the Dot Com Top 3 #1 position. Under Thomas’s watch, Savannah’s YouTube fan response grew to 75 million YouTube views with 250,000 subscribers.

In 2009 Thomas produced the Grammy Award winning Heather Headley album, Audience of One. In 2012 Thomas produced the Grammy nominated band, forever JONES’ new album, Musical Revival released April 10, 2012 on EMI Records. He also reconnected with Headley in 2012 to produce a project in conjunction with her lead role in the stage adaptation of The Body Guard, which opened in the UK, November 2012. The Whitney Houston tribute moves from the UK to Broadway in 2014.

Thomas also produced the title track and three additional songs for The Voice finalist, Chris Mann’s debut CD, Roads on Universal Republic.

In early 2013 Thomas was asked to participate in the reality series Chasing Nashville on Lifetime, which follows seven aspiring artists from West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Album credits

The album credits below, while comprehensive, may contain omissions and will be updated accordingly as more information becomes available

2014	SAFE	Celica Westbrook	Producer/Writer - Theme Song For Agape International Missions Event Palm Beach 2014
2014	Hope in Front of Me	Danny Gokey	Producer/Writer • One Life, It's Not Over, This Is What It Means, Because Of You
2013	The Promised Land	Marsha Hancock	Executive Producer/Producer/Writer (Theme Song For Lifetime Reality Series, Chasing Nashville)
2013	Chasing Nashville Soundtrack	Multiple Artists	Executive Producer/Producer/Writer
2013	Boys 'Round Here (Remix)	Blake Shelton	Producer/Arranger
2013	Long Way To Go (Remix)	Josh Gracin	Producer/Arranger - Average Joe's Entertainment
2013	The Only One In The World	Heather Headley	Producer/Writer
2012	Musical Revival	ForeverJONES	Producer
2011	The Ultimate Sacrifice	Bebe Winans	Producer
2010	Fighting For My Life	Savannah Outen	Producer • Radio Disney
2010	If You Only Knew	Savannah Outen	Producer • Radio Disney
2010	Tight Hole	Laura Turner	Producer, Arranger, Songwriter
2009	The Real Thing	Vanessa Williams	Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Piano
2009	Audience Of One	Heather Headley	Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Piano
2009	Stand(In The Light)	James Ingram	Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Writer
2009	Still (Reunion Project)	Bebe & Cece Winans	Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Writer
2008	Goodbyes	Savannah Outen	Producer, Arranger, Programmer - Radio Disney
2008	WOW Gospel 2008	Various Artists	Producer
2007	Very Best of Disney Channel	Various Artists	Producer
2007	Ultimate Collection	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Producer
2007	Timeless: The Selah Collection	Selah	Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2007	Rissi Palmer	Rissi Palmer	Piano, Arranger, Producer
2007	Number 1's: Love Songs	Various Artists	Arranger, Producer
2007	Number 1's: '90 Soul	Various Artists	Producer
2007	No Ordinary Girl [Bonus DVD]	Jordan Pruitt	Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Piano, Guitar (Electric), Programming, Vocals (background), Producer, Drum Programming High School Musical
2007	Jump In!	Original Soundtrack	Producer
2007	Colorful World Children's Book	Cece Winans	Co-writer - Maren Green Publishing
2007	Greatest Hits [Sparrow]	Amy Grant	Producer
2007	Eighties: The Ultimate Collection	Various Artists	Producer
2007	Disneymania, Vol. 5	Disney	Piano, Producer, String Arrangements
2007	Definitive Collection	First Call	Producer
2007	Definitive Collection	Steve Camp	Producer
2006	WOW Gospel 2006	Various Artists	Arranger, Producer
2006	Treasures: A Collection of Their Greatest Hits	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Arranger, Producer
2006	Nativity Story: Sacred Songs	Original Soundtrack	Producer
2006	Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album	Selah	Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2005	Purified	CeCe Winans	Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Piano, Arranger, Drums, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Producer, Executive Producer, Drum Programming
2005	Disney's Greatest Hits [# 1]	Disney	Arranger, Producer
2004	Walt Disney Records Presents Superstar Hits	Disney	Arranger, Producer
2004	Love Songs	Vanessa Williams	Arranger, Producer
2004	In This Skin [Bonus Tracks & DVD]	Jessica Simpson	Bass, Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Mixing
2004	The Hard Way	Owsley	Strings, Producer, Photography
2004	Greatest Hits 1986-2004	Amy Grant	Producer, Remix Producer, Remix Arrangement
2004	Best of Peabo Bryson [Columbia]	Peabo Bryson	Synthesizer, Programming, Producer, Drum Programming, Original Recording Producer
2004	The Best of Mandy Moore	Mandy Moore	Synthesizer, Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Arranger, Producer, Drum
2004	BeBe & CeCe Winans [Platinum Disc]	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Producer
2003	WOW Hits 2004	Various Artists	Producer
2003	Simple Things	Amy Grant	Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Executive Producer, Drum Programming, Mixing
2003	In This Skin	Jessica Simpson	Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Mixing
2003	History Makers: The Best of Gospel, Vol. 1	Various Artists	Producer
2003	Great Family of Gospel	The Winans Family	Producer
2003	20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The	Vanessa Williams	Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements
2002	Selena [Original Soundtrack 2003]	Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer
2002	Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church	Charlotte Church	Producer
2002	Great Women of Gospel, Vol. 3	Various Artists	Producer
2002	Disney's Superstar Hits	Disney	Arranger, Producer
2001	Osmosis Jones	Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer
2001	Great Gospel Moments: Men of Gospel	Various Artists	Producer
2001	Enchantment	Charlotte Church	Arranger, Producer, Synthesizer Programming
2000	WOW Gold	Various Artists	Producer
2000	Super Hits	Peabo Bryson	Arranger, Producer
2000	Isn't She Great	Burt Bacharach	Programming, Producer
2000	I Wanna Be with You	Mandy Moore	Guitar (Acoustic), Arranger, Programming, Producer, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Programming, Writer
2000	Heart of a Champion	Carman	Producer, Writer
2000	Disney's Greatest Hits	Various Artists	Producer
2000	Center Stage [Sony]	Original Soundtrack	Synthesizer, Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Arranger, Producer, Drum Programming, Writer
2000	At Last	Gladys Knight	Arranger, Producer
1999	WOW 2000	Various Artists	Producer
1999	Mountain High... Valley Low	Yolanda Adams	Multi Instruments, Producer, Writer
1999	Fantasia 2000	Walt Disney	Producer
1998	Yours Faithfully	Rebbie Jackson	Arranger, Producer
1998	Very Best of Vanessa Williams [Polygram International]	Vanessa Williams	Producer
1998	Touched by an Angel: The Album	Television Soundtrack	Executive Producer, Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements,
1998	Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years	Vanessa Williams	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Piano Programming
1998	Everything's Gonna Be Alright	Deana Carter	Arranger, Keyboards, Producer
1998	Disney's Greatest Pop Hits	Various Artists	Arranger, Producwer
1998	Dance with Me	Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer
1998	Audra & Alayna	Audra & Alayna	Guitar (Acoustic), Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Melodica, Producer
1998	98° and Rising	98°	Bass, Keyboards, Producer (I Do Cherish You)
1997	Takes a Little Time	Amy Grant	Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Producer
1997	Speed 2: Cruise Control	Original Soundtrack	Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Programming, Producer
1997	One Night with You: The Best of Love, Vol. 2	Luther Vandross	Synthesizer, Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements, Bass Programming
1997	Next	Vanessa Williams	Synthesizer, Guitar, Piano, Arranger, Programming, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming, Bass Programming
1997	Behind the Eyes	Amy Grant	Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Arranger, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Programming, Producer, String Arrangements, Synthesizer Programming
1997	Anytime	Brian McKnight	Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Producer, Bass Programming
1997	All That Matters	Michael Bolton	Multi Instruments, Drum Programming, Bass Programming, Producer
1996	This Is the Time: The Christmas Album	Michael Bolton	Guitar, Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Piano Programming, Synthesizer Programming
1996	NBA at 50: A Musical Celebration	Various Artists	Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Programming, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Piano Programming, Synthesizer Programming
1996	Miracle	Puff Johnson	Synthesizer, Guitar, Piano, Arranger, Programming, Producer
1996	Kissing Rain	Roch Voisine	Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Programming, Producer
1996	First Wives Club [Original Soundtrack]	Original Soundtrack	Producer
1996	Count on Me/Hold Up the Light	Whitney Houston/Cece & BeBe Winans	Arranger, Producer
1995	WOW 1996: The Year's 30 Top Christian Artists and Son	Various Artists	Producer
1995	Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King	Various Artists	Piano, Piano (Electric), Producer, String Arrangements
1995	Sweetest Days	Vanessa Williams	Bass, Piano, Programming, Producer, String Arrangements
1995	Reachin' Back	Regina Belle	Synthesizer, Producer, Bass Programming
1995	Pocahontas [Original Soundtrack]	Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer • Academy Award Best Song For Motion Picture
1995	Greatest Hits	Exposé	Synthesizer, Arranger, Producer, Bass Programming
1995	I Could Fall In Love	Selena	Synthesizer, Arranger, Producer, Programmed Bass, Writer
1995	Deborah Cox	Deborah Cox	Synthesizer, Bass
1995	Can't Stop Talking About Him	Gaither Vocal Band	Producer
1994	Through the Fire	Peabo Bryson	Synthesizer, Percussion, Arranger, Drums, Programming, Producer, Vocal Arrangement
1994	Relationships	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Arranger, Writer
1994	Pure Pleasure	Phil Perry	Bass, Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Keyboard Programming, Track Arrangement
1994	Pagemaster	James Horner	Producer
1994	Mask [Original Soundtrack]	Original Soundtrack	Producer
1994	Lucky One [CD Single]	Amy Grant	Producer
1994	Kathy Troccoli	Kathy Troccoli	Synthesizer, Percussion, Drums, Programming, Producer
1994	House of Love	Amy Grant	Synthesizer, Bass, Piano, Arranger, Piano (Electric), Programming, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Percussion Programming, Synthesizer Programming
1994	Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert	Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer
1994	8 Seconds	8 Seconds: Original Soundtrack	Arranger, Producer
1993	Wanna Girl	Jeremy Jordan	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals (background), Producer, Writer, Vocal Arrangement, Drum Programming
1993	Revival in the Land	Carman	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Producer, Drum Programming, Synclavier Horns, Synclavier Drums
1993	Always You	James Ingram	Arranger, Drums, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming, Bass Programming
1993	Addicted to Jesus	Carman	Producer
1993	Absolute Best	Carman	Producer
1992	Trey Lorenz	Trey Lorenz	Bass, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Drum Programming
1992	Comin' on Strong	Carman	Synthesizer, Bass, Piano, Programming, Vocals (background), Producer, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer Bass, Moog Bass
1992	Champion	Carman	Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Synthesizer Programming
1991	Shakin' The House	Carman	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Programming, Producer, Drum Programming, Synclavier Horns, Synthesizer Programming
1991	Love Overflowing	Sandi Patti	Arranger, Keyboards, Track Arrangement
1991	Heart in Motion	Amy Grant	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Drums, Vocals (background), Producer, Drum Programming, Percussion Programming
1991	Different Lifestyles	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Arranger, Producer, Drum Programming, Instrumentation
1991	Comfort Zone	Vanessa Williams	Bass, Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Producer, Vocal Arrangement, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Rhythm Arrangements
1990	River of Love	David Foster	Synthesizer Programming
1989	The Choice Of A New Generation	Pepsi	Producer, Synclavier, (International Theme Song)
1989	Precious Moments: Fall '88	Steve & Annie Chapman	Piano, Overdubs, Synclavier, String Arrangements, Synthesizer Overdubs
1988	New World	Karla Bonoff	Synthesizer, Bass, Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements, Drum Programming
1988	Live: Radically Saved	Carman	Synthesizer, Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals (background), Multi Instruments, Producer, Synclavier, Introduction
1988	Lead Me On	Amy Grant	Synclavier
1988	Heaven	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Synthesizer, Bass, Piano, Arranger, Drums, Guitar (Steel), Programming, Producer, Synclavier, Vocal Arrangement, Horn Arrangements, Drum Programming
1987	Something Takes Over	First Call	Keyboards, Programming, Track Arrangement
1987	I Prefer the Moonlight	Kenny Rogers	Keyboards
1987	BeBe & CeCe Winans	BeBe & CeCe Winans	Keyboards, Vocals (background), Producer, String Arrangements
1986	Velvet & Steel	Dion	Keyboards
1986	Live And Learn	Paul Smith (Christian music performer)	Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Programming, Keyboards
1985	Action	Steve Archer	Producer

External links

• http://www.keiththomas.com/
• http://www.levosia.com/