BIGSONG:
Gospel singer, musician, composer, missionary, and ordained minister Donn Thomas was born again at the age of nine when doctors diagnosed him with a terminal case of spinal meningitis. Lifted by his mom’s prayers, Thomas heard the Lord calling him to the ministry, he answered and fully recovered. His best friend, LaVoughn, provided encouragement during down periods; the childhood friends/sweethearts married in 1972.
He always wanted to record the music in his head, and a chance meeting with David Diggs fulfilled the dream. Thomas had written songs and produced demos, but Diggs elevated the process and secured him a deal with Myrrh Records.
Diggs produced Thomas’ two Myrrh albums: Live Wires and You’re the One. The covers both depict a young, virile Thomas, stylishly dressed; the inside sleeve of Live Wires has a picture of Thomas posing with LaVoughn. Diggs tried to break Thomas into the mainstream; he produced, arranged, played keyboards, and collaborated with Thomas on some songs. He used some of Los Angeles’ best musicians — Dave Boruff, Paul Jackson Jr., Ed Greene, Jim Keltner, the Seawind Horns, and others — to accompany Thomas. Sales didn’t meet their expectations, but Thomas kept recording for a variety of labels; his releases include Urban Hope and Real People. He became a member of the Promise Keepers worship team, and appeared at concerts and religious gatherings such as the Promise Keepers in Memphis, TN, in 1996 and Congress on the Urban Family in Atlanta, GA, in 1977. An ordained minister (Church of God in Christ), Thomas and Lovoughn lived in Stone Mountain, GA, where he continued to perform concerts with his crew, the Praise Band.
