Rosie Thomas
Encyclopedia
Rosie Thomas is an American
singer-songwriter
, originally from Michigan
. It was through mutual friends that she met Trey Many and began playing shows with Velour 100
. They recorded one EP together and played a few short tours, where she met Damien Jurado
and Pedro the Lion
. She then moved to Seattle to briefly attend Cornish College before deciding to focus on a solo recording career.
Thomas also performs as a stand-up comedian
under the name Sheila Saputo.
Her appearance on the song "Parking Lot", from Damien Jurado
's album Ghost of David
, brought her to the attention of famed record label Sub Pop
who signed her in 2000.
Her debut album When We Were Small
was released on January 22, 2001. The album featured Eric Fisher (who Thomas met at Cornish College in Seattle) on guitar
and keyboards
and Andy Myers on drums
. Fisher and Myers returned for 2003's follow-up Only with Laughter Can You Win
.
She released her third album, If Songs Could Be Held
, in 2005.
In March 2006, Thomas was invited by Toronto indie rock
label Paper Bag Records
to exclusively contribute to their
See You on the Moon!
compilation with her song "Faith's Silver Elephant".
In April 2006, Pitchfork erroneously announced that Thomas and American musician Sufjan Stevens
were having a baby together, but were forced to print a retraction. Denison Witmer
and Thomas later admitted it was an April Fools' prank.http://www.denisonwitmer.com/news.php?rowstart=10
Her album, These Friends of Mine
, was released on December 12, 2006 through her own record label Sing-A-Long Records.
She released a holiday album called A Very Rosie Christmas
in November 2008 through her own record label. Thomas also acted in the 2009 film Calvin Marshall
and was the subject of the 2009 documentary All the Way from Michigan Not Mars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, originally from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was through mutual friends that she met Trey Many and began playing shows with Velour 100
Velour 100
Velour 100 was a dream pop / ethereal rock band from Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. The band existed from 1995 to 2000, with most of its music seeing release via Tooth & Nail Records in 1996 & 1997. The band was essentially masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Trey Many of His Name Is Alive and...
. They recorded one EP together and played a few short tours, where she met Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.-Music career:...
and Pedro the Lion
Pedro the Lion
Pedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Singer-songwriter David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. T. W. Walsh is considered to be the sole official band member besides Bazan. In...
. She then moved to Seattle to briefly attend Cornish College before deciding to focus on a solo recording career.
Thomas also performs as a stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
under the name Sheila Saputo.
Her appearance on the song "Parking Lot", from Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.-Music career:...
's album Ghost of David
Ghost of David
Ghost of David is an album by the singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, released in 2000 on Sub Pop records. The David of the title is Jurado's friend and former bandmate in Coolidge, David Bazan, who is most famously Pedro the Lion's frontman. In tone, Ghost of David is bleak, spare, and depressing...
, brought her to the attention of famed record label Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
who signed her in 2000.
Her debut album When We Were Small
When We Were Small
When We Were Small is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas.#"2 Dollar Shoes" – 3:10#"Farewell" – 3:12#"Wedding Day" – 5:26#"Lorraine" – 3:24...
was released on January 22, 2001. The album featured Eric Fisher (who Thomas met at Cornish College in Seattle) on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and Andy Myers on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. Fisher and Myers returned for 2003's follow-up Only with Laughter Can You Win
Only With Laughter Can You Win
Only with Laughter Can You Win is the second album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas.#"Let Myself Fall" – 1:52#"I Play Music" – 3:38#"Red Rover" – 3:20...
.
She released her third album, If Songs Could Be Held
If Songs Could Be Held
If Songs Could Be Held is the third album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2005.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas unless otherwise stated...
, in 2005.
In March 2006, Thomas was invited by Toronto indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
label Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
to exclusively contribute to their
See You on the Moon!
See You on the Moon!
See You on the Moon!: Songs for Kids of All Ages is a compilation album, released in 2006 on Paper Bag Records. The album features a number of indie rock artists, mostly but not exclusively from Canada, performing songs written in the style of children's songs.Most tracks are original songs written...
compilation with her song "Faith's Silver Elephant".
In April 2006, Pitchfork erroneously announced that Thomas and American musician Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
were having a baby together, but were forced to print a retraction. Denison Witmer
Denison Witmer
Denison Witmer is an indie singer-songwriter from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first release, in 1995, was a cassette titled My Luck, My Love. He has since released six studio LPs; two live albums, a cover album ; three EPs; and an LP with The River Bends—a side project consisting of members of the...
and Thomas later admitted it was an April Fools' prank.http://www.denisonwitmer.com/news.php?rowstart=10
Her album, These Friends of Mine
These Friends of Mine (album)
These Friends of Mine is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2006. Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan, Damien Jurado, and Denison Witmer also appear on this album. The album was initially only available for purchase at online music stores...
, was released on December 12, 2006 through her own record label Sing-A-Long Records.
She released a holiday album called A Very Rosie Christmas
A Very Rosie Christmas
A Very Rosie Christmas is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2008. It is her first holiday album and features vocals from her friends and family members.-Track listing:...
in November 2008 through her own record label. Thomas also acted in the 2009 film Calvin Marshall
Calvin Marshall
Calvin Marshall is a 2009 coming of age-comedy film written and directed by Gary Lundgren and starring Alex Frost as the title character, a determined but talentless college baseball player, and Steve Zahn as his coach...
and was the subject of the 2009 documentary All the Way from Michigan Not Mars.
Albums
- When We Were SmallWhen We Were SmallWhen We Were Small is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas.#"2 Dollar Shoes" – 3:10#"Farewell" – 3:12#"Wedding Day" – 5:26#"Lorraine" – 3:24...
(2001) - Only with Laughter Can You WinOnly With Laughter Can You WinOnly with Laughter Can You Win is the second album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas.#"Let Myself Fall" – 1:52#"I Play Music" – 3:38#"Red Rover" – 3:20...
(2003) - If Songs Could Be HeldIf Songs Could Be HeldIf Songs Could Be Held is the third album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2005.-Track listing:All songs written by Rosie Thomas unless otherwise stated...
(2005) - These Friends of MineThese Friends of Mine (album)These Friends of Mine is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2006. Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan, Damien Jurado, and Denison Witmer also appear on this album. The album was initially only available for purchase at online music stores...
(2006) - A Very Rosie ChristmasA Very Rosie ChristmasA Very Rosie Christmas is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2008. It is her first holiday album and features vocals from her friends and family members.-Track listing:...
(2008)
Compilation appearances
- "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Bifrost ArtsBifrost ArtsBifrost Arts is an ecumenical religious organization closely linked to the Presbyterian Church in America that produces written and recorded religious music, and frequently performs at Christian Universities and conferences....
' Come O Spirit (Sounds Familyre 2009)