Rob Thomas was born on February 14, 1972, in Landstuhl, Germany. He grew up in South Carolina and Florida, and recognized his passion and talent for all things musical at the age of thirteen. Feeling he could no longer wait to pursue his dream, Thomas made the decision to leave high school early to pursue his music career.
After a short stint with a band known as Tabitha’s Secret, Rob Thomas joined forces with Kyle Cook, Brian Yale, and Paul Doucette to form Matchbox Twenty. With Rob as their lead singer and songwriter, the group soon proved themselves to be a musical force to be reckoned with. During their time together as a group, the band has sold more than 39 million albums around the world since their first album release in 1996. Much of the success of the group can be attributed to Rob’s voice and the memorable lyrics found in his songs like "Push," "Bent," "If You’re Gone," and "Unwell." In 2004, Thomas was awarded the very first Starlight Award. Given by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, the purpose of the award is to recognize young musicians who have had an impact on the music industry.
Although Matchbox Twenty never officially broke up, they have been on a break for several years so that its members can pursue other projects. They are rumored to be preparing to release another album sometime in the near future. Since the band’s hiatus, Thomas has been keeping extremely busy. He released his first solo album, Something to Be, in 2005. Its success was staggering. It debuted at #1 on the charts, and several singles from the album also garnered considerable airplay and attention. The success of his solo efforts has allowed him to tour with Jewel and Toby Lightman.
In addition to writing music for himself and his former band, Thomas has also penned songs for several well-known artists and groups. They include American Idol winners and runners up Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry, as well as Marc Anthony and Pat Green.
At one time, Rob had a relationship with a woman by the name of Kerry Williams. Although the pair eventually split, their son Maison Avery William Thomas was born during their time together. In October of 1999, Rob married model Marisol Maldonado. The couple also has a child together.
YUDDY
