Tanu14: adding new article with sources - done

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{{Short description|Indian musician}}
{{External links|date=October 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Radha Thomas
| image = Radha_Thomas.jpg
| caption = Radha Thomas
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| genre = [[Jazz]], [[blues]], [[pop music|pop]], [[Indian classical music]]
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician, executive
| associated_acts = [[Ryo Kawasaki]], [[John Scofield]], [[Michael Brecker]], [[John Faddis]], [[Alex Blake (musician)|Alex Blake]], [[Joe Farrell]]
| website = {{URL|www.radhathomas.com}}
}}

'''Radha Thomas''' is the Executive Vice-President at [[Explocity]] Private Limited, a media publishing house in India. She has held this position since 1999. She is an author, vocalist,<ref name="Not">{{cite web|last1=Bagchi|first1=Shrabonti|title=Not as popular as David Guetta, but we manage - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Not-as-popular-as-David-Guetta-but-we-manage/articleshow/16509573.cms?referral=PM|website=The Times of India|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=23 September 2012}}</ref> and the leader of the [[jazz fusion]] band UNK: the Radha Thomas Ensemble.<ref name="Crowd">{{cite web|last1=Bernadette|first1=Anuradha|title=The crowd knows its jazz|url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/the-crowd-knows-its-jazz/article2343222.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=10 August 2011}}</ref>

==Musical career==
Thomas studied [[Indian classical music]] with two [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani]] vocalists, [[Kumar Gandharva]] in New Delhi and Ustad [[Zia Fariduddin Dagar]] in the art of [[Dhrupad]] singing.<ref name="Sings">{{cite web|last1=Jayaraman|first1=Pavitra|title=Radha Sings the Blues|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/Bptye3kyJcvmdV8DA1dI4O/Radha-sings-the-blues.html|website=Live Mint|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=21 September 2012}}</ref> She blends Indian influences into jazz singing.<ref name="Half">{{cite web|last1=Lakhani|first1=Somya|title=Jazz and a Half|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/jazz-and-a-half/1006558/0|website=Indian Express|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en-gb|date=23 September 2012}}</ref> She began her career as a vocalist<ref name="Five">{{cite web|last1=Mujumdar|first1=Neah|title=Take five...and a lot more|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/take-fiveand-a-lot-more/article4211519.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=18 December 2012}}</ref> in a rock and roll band called Human Bondage.<ref name="Sixties">{{cite web|last1=Jain|first1=Amrita|title=The Sixties Show|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-sixties-show/881249/0|website=Indian Express|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en-gb|date=28 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Divine">{{cite web|last1=Bagchi|first1=Shrabonti|title=The rhythm divine|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/The-rhythm-divine-Bangalores-rock-n-roll-past-went-a-long-way-towards-shaping-its-musical-future/articleshow/35869301.cms?|website=The Times of India|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=1 June 2014}}</ref>

In 1976, she was selected to represent India at a jazz vocalists festival in Warsaw, Poland. She moved to New York, where she lived for twenty years. She performed at [[Sweet Basil Jazz Club]] and The Bottom Line. Some of the musicians she has performed with include [[John Scofield]], [[Michael Brecker]], [[John Faddis]], [[Alex Blake (musician)|Alex Blake]], [[Ryo Kawasaki]], [[Joe Farrell]], and Greg Alper.

Thomas, known as Radha Shottam, was the featured artist on two albums, ''Mirror of My Mind''<ref name="Mirror">{{cite web|title=Mirror of My Mind|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mirror-of-my-mind-mw0000241170/credits|website=AllMusic|accessdate=8 June 2017}}</ref> and ''Ring Toss'' by jazz guitarist [[Ryo Kawasaki]] and wrote the lyrics for several of the tracks.

She returned to India in 1993 and began performing with [[Louis Banks]],<ref name="Ringing">{{cite web|title=Ringing in Christmas|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parties/bangalore/Ringing-in-Christmas/articleshow/3866913.cms?referral=PM|website=The Times of India|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=21 December 2008}}</ref> Sanjay Divecha, Gerard Machado,<ref name="yatra">{{cite web|title=Jazz mine|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/entertainment/2002/mar/22357.htm|website=Mid-Day|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=25 March 2002|archive-date=27 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827054625/http://archive.mid-day.com/entertainment/2002/mar/22357.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="flowers">{{cite web|title=Jazz flowers, but a touch quietly, in Bangalore|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/20/stories/2002062000310200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020820111313/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/06/20/stories/2002062000310200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2002|accessdate=8 June 2017|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=20 June 2002}}</ref> and Keith Peters She formed her own band in 2009.

Thomas has performed at the ICCR Delhi jazz International Festival,<ref name="ICCR">{{cite web|title=ICCR announces 3rd Delhi International Jazz fest|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/iccr-announces-3rd-delhi-international-jazz-fest|website=Radio and Music|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=6 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="ICCR2">{{cite web|title=ICCR'S 3rd Delhi international jazz festival witnessed gala performances over 4 days with 14 bands from 11 countries|url=http://www.apnnews.com/2013/03/25/iccrs-3rd-delhi-international-jazz-festival-witnessed-gala-performances-over-4-days-with-14-bands-from-11-countries/|website=APN News|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=25 March 2013}}</ref> the iSai Music Festival, the Bangalore International Festival,<ref name="Bang">{{cite web|last1=Kundu|first1=Rhik|title=Bangalore International Arts Festival to have troupes from 8 countries - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Bangalore-International-Arts-Festival-to-have-troupes-from-8-countries/articleshow/16006703.cms?referral=PM|website=The Times of India|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=30 August 2012}}</ref> the Bengaluru Habba, the Jazz Yatra,<ref name="traffic">{{cite web|last1=G N|first1=Prasanth|title='I Like People Who Beat Traffic to Meet Jazz'|url=http://www.talkmag.in/cms/culture/music/item/273-%E2%80%98i-like-people-who-beat-traffic-to-meet-jazz%E2%80%99/|website=Talk Mag|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=17 October 2012}}</ref> and the Arcosanti Festival.

Between June 2020 and June 2021, Radha Thomas produced and performed in 52 jazz videos which, significantly, amounts to one video a week for a year. The effort involved collaborating with 23 musicians in 12 countries. This was covered by the [[Explocity|news website Explocity]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bangalore.explocity.com/articles/52-jazz-videos-in-one-year-the-work-ethic-of-jazz-singer-radha-thomas/ | title=52 Jazz Videos in One Year - the Work Ethic of Jazz Singer Radha Thomas }}</ref>

==UNK: The Radha Thomas Ensemble==
[[Jazz]], [[bebop]], [[hip hop]], [[blues]], [[Indian classical music]], [[rock and roll]], and other modern influences go to create the sound of the band which features Aman Mahajan on piano/keyboards.<ref name="Half" /> Mahajan is also co-producer of the band, with Mishko M'ba on bass, Matt Littlewood on saxophone, Suresh Bascara on drums, and [[Ramjee Chandran]] on guitar.<ref name="questions">{{cite web|title=3 questions with Radha Thomas|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/may/180512-Mumbai-Guide-3-questions-with-Radha-Thomas.htm|website=archive.mid-day.com|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=18 May 2012}}</ref> Their first album,<ref name="traffic" /> was produced independently and was released in September 2012.<ref name="smoky">{{cite web|last1=Mujumdar|first1=Neha|title=The smoky singer|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/the-smoky-singer/article4032769.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=26 October 2012}}</ref> Called ''I Only Have Eyes For You'', it features original material and rearranged jazz standards.<ref name="weaving">{{cite web|last1=Mujumdar|first1=Neah|title=Weaving a web of sound|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/weaving-a-web-of-sound/article3936991.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=26 September 2012}}</ref>

==Writing career==
Besides writing the lyrics for all the original material she performs,<ref name="soul">{{cite web|last1=Sarkar|first1=Neeti|title=This music has soul|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/this-music-has-soul/article5959705.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=21 May 2016}}</ref> she has written, mostly in a humorous vein for the ''Bangalore Monthly'', a column called "Between the Sexes." She released her first book, ''Men on My Mind''.<ref name="want">{{cite web|last1=Datta|first1=Sravastis|title=What women want|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/what-women-want/article4215330.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=19 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="men">{{cite web|title=Where men are only just men|url=http://www.afternoondc.in/book-review/where-men-are-only-just-men/article_69928|website=www.afternoondc.in|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=26 November 2012}}</ref> The book was categorized by Rediff as one of the top five romance novels by first-time authors<ref name="five">{{cite web|title=TOP 5: Romance novels by first-time authors|url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-books-top-5-romance-novels-by-first-time-authors/20130502.htm|website=Rediff|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=2 May 2013}}</ref> and has been a part of a user review campaign by Blog Adda and has also been written about by several bloggers and newspapers. She also led the editorial team at ''[[Explocity]]''. Her work has been published in ''[[The Hindu]]'',<ref name="why">{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Radha|title=Why is jazz like pavakkai?|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Why-is-jazz-like-pavakkai/article15523477.ece|website=The Hindu|accessdate=8 June 2017|language=en|date=18 January 2011}}</ref> ''Man's World'', Explocity.com, ''Bangalore Mirror'', ''Asian Age'', and ''Bangalore Monthly''. She wrote the bestselling book ''The Cauliflower Diet'', which examines replacing rice, potato, and other carbohydrates with cauliflower.<ref name="move">{{cite web|last1=Ved|first1=Sonal|title=Move over broccoli—cauliflower is making a cool comeback|url=https://www.vogue.in/content/move-over-broccoli-cauliflower-is-making-a-cool-comeback/|website=VOGUE India|accessdate=8 June 2017|date=2 March 2016}}</ref>

Books written by Radha Thomas are:
* Dog Tails (All proceeds from this book go to an animal charity called CARE (Charlies Animal Rescue Centre))
* The Cauliflower Diet
* Men On My Mind
* More Men On My Mind

In January 2022, Radha Thomas started a podcast, The Indie Dog.

==Literary mentions==
*[http://www.evabell.net/article_list/Live-in-relationships.htm Savvy magazine July 1998]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=WeELAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Radha+Thomas%22 Rasa: Music and Dance by Bimal Mukherjee, Sunil Kothari, Ananda Lal, Anamika Kala Sangam and Chidananda Das Gupta]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=KiHrIq7G-aAC&dq=%22Radha+Thomas%22&pg=PA49 Gay in the Garden City – The Bangalore Monthly Update, September 1998]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQSCAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Radha+Thomas%22 Attendance by the Mohan Khokar Dance Foundation]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Radha}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian jazz composers]]
[[Category:Jazz fusion musicians]]
[[Category:Indian women jazz composers]]
[[Category:Indian women jazz singers]]
[[Category:Indian jazz singers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Radha Thomas - Revision history

Tanu14: adding new article with sources - done