Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen Of New Orleans

For a voice that makes you sit up straight, look to Irma Thomas to deliver. The New Orleans native is 69, and she’s been singing pretty much her whole life.

"I can’t remember when I didn’t sing," she says. "It was just a part of life."

When Thomas heard that she had been selected as one of NPR’s 50 Great Voices, she said, "I kinda lit up, like, ‘Wow, I’m among 50 great voices!’ Like, ‘Hey!’ "

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Thomas’ voice is a true New Orleans treasure. The soul queen isn’t just from the city — she’s of the city, and her voice reflects that…

Click to read more, hear the podcast and listen to sample songs for free.

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