- Thomas' first recording was part of a group known as Phillip (Reynolds) & The Faithfuls "Love Me" / "Rhythm Marie" on Goldwax in 1964. In 2009 a previously unreleased recording "What'cha Gonna Do" by them was uncovered and released on Kent Select which sounds very similar to Major Lance's "Monkey Time".
- He had little solo success until he moved to Glades Records in Miami, Florida, and in late 1972 he released "Why Can't We Live Together". The record topped the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, made the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, and top 20 in other countries including the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. This disc sold over two million copies.
- Thomas was best known for his 1972 hit "Why Can't We Live Together" that he wrote in response to the Vietnam War.
- Since 1995 he has taught music at a primary school.
- In 2015, Drake sampled Thomas' signature hit, "Why Can't We Live Together", on his single "Hotline Bling".
- He first attracted interest in his work as an accompanist with Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley, before working as a session musician in Memphis, Tennessee, and releasing singles on the Goldwax Records label.
- He was earlier part of a group called Phillip & the Faithfuls, which also included the singer Phillip Reynolds, releasing material for the Goldwax imprint, including "Love Me", "What'Cha Gonna Do" and "'If You Love Her" (all in 1964).
- Thomas appeared on Nicole McCloud's 1985 album What About Me?, singing on a duet with her called "New York Eyes". This track reached number 41 in the UK.
- He was one of twelve children of a Methodist pastor. His father -Thomas- taught all his children to play the piano and had them play in church on Sundays.
- In the year 1972, he wrote the song, with which he conquered large parts of the world: 'Why can't we live together'. He got the inspiration for this song from all the hatred and pain in the world, such as racism and the Vietnam War. He recorded the song in one take. The song is characterized by the stripped-down production. He plays the hammond organ (and hammond bass) himself and is accompanied by a drum computer. After TK Records' Henry Stone heard the song on the radio, he offered Thomas a contract, bought the rights to the song and released it nationwide. "Why Can't We Live Together" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1973.
- As a teenager, Timmy Thomas received jazz lessons from Stan Kenton and attended Lane College in Jackson. During that time, he played accompaniment for Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley and worked as a session musician in Memphis.
- In the 1990s, he worked as a producer for LaFace Records and released the album With Heart and Soul for DTM Records. Also, his song "(Dying Inside) To Hold You" was a massive hit in the Philippines, and gained further popularity in 2017 when it was covered by Darren Espanto for the film All of You.
- He had a total of thirteen entries into the US &&B chart in his career with only three hitting the Hot 100 and was never able to emulate the success of "Why Can't We Live Together".
- Shortly after 1967, he moved to Miami. After working at a college there for a few years, he opened his own cafe in 1972: Timmy's Lounge Bar.
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