Stephen Thomas
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Stephen Thomas

Charleston, West Virginia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | MAJOR

Charleston, West Virginia, United States | MAJOR
Established on Jan, 2013
Solo Hip Hop R&B

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"Christian hip-hop artist is making airwaves"

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "It's like it's written," holy hip-hop artist and syndicated radio host Stephen "Steve-O" Thomas said. "What good is it to gain the world if you lose your soul?"

Like a lot of young, urban artists, Thomas is very much interested in fame, acclaim and wealth. It's not just part of the hip-hop culture, it's part of the American culture, and Thomas wants it all -- the expensive cars, the money, the flashy clothes.

"I want a life of abundance," he said. "Like the kind only God can provide. I want to be proof that you can be young, fly and saved at the same time."

Thomas is doing the best he can to live that way. The 17-year-old performer is most often heard locally from 6 to 7 a.m. Sundays on 98.7 "The Beat," but he also plays occasional shows around the area and is heard on "Crunk 4 Christ," a nationally syndicated Contemporary Christian radio broadcast based out of Georgia.

"I'm on from 4 to 6 p.m. On my show, we talk about everything," he said of the national broadcast.

Thomas e-mails the show from home to the Crunk 4 Christ offices in Georgia. He describes the syndicated radio broadcast as a growing enterprise, still looking for sponsors, but says, "It's not about the money.

My thing is ministry," he said. "A lot of stuff people do impact lives. I try to stay positive."

Thomas grew up on Charleston's West Side and got started playing music before he started school. In his early teens, he got involved in musical theater through the Contemporary Youth Arts Company. He listened to all the usual music and did all the normal things that young teens do.

"I used to do some cuss words," he said.

But he put that away when he turned 15 and got involved with gospel music. Holy hip-hop became his path to bridging the message he heard in church and the music he heard everywhere.

"I didn't come up with it," Thomas said. "But nobody was doing it here. I just wanted to create a movement."

Thomas got into radio after a class field trip to West Virginia Radio Corp. Thomas, ever eager and not at all shy, had more questions for the staff and wanted to know how he could promote his own musical career. He worked his way up the chain of command, spoke with the radio group's vice president and marketing director, Mike Buxser.

"But it was Woody Woods who brought me in," Thomas said. Woods is the drive-time DJ on 98.7 "The Beat."

Not long after Thomas started his early-Sunday-morning radio shift, he contacted Pastor Calvin "P-Crunk" McCoy. McCoy runs Crunk 4 Christ in Atlanta.

"Well, you can't hear us in Charleston on the air," McCoy said. "Steve-O found us on the Internet and reached out."

McCoy said Thomas impressed them right off, both with his eagerness and devotion.

"And he already had a radio show in Charleston."

Thomas made several guest appearances on Crunk 4 Christ programs and was offered the afternoon slot.

"We just loved his determination to do the right thing," McCoy said. "He provides a good example for young people his own age."

And he makes McCoy laugh.

All that Thomas does keeps him busy. Because of his music and radio careers, it became impossible to attend classes regularly.

"It got too hard to travel during the week."

Thomas says to follow his dreams, with his parents' blessing, he withdrew from Capital High School and now takes high school classes online through Ashworth College's high school program.

"Education is important," he said. - Charleston Gazette


"Charleston Singer To Appear on National TV"

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Monday November 12, 2012
Charleston singer to appear on national TV
by Charlotte Ferrell Smith
Daily Mail staff

Christian singer and rapper Stephen Thomas, whose stage name is Steve-O, is working on his third album and preparing for an upcoming performance on national television.

"I do this 24/7," the 19-year-old Charleston resident said of his musical career. "The grind doesn't stop. If I'm not doing anything, I'm thinking about how I can be a better minister and a better part of entertainment."

He said he loves what he does because music is his passion and he hopes to have a positive impact on youth.

Thomas will perform at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on Total Christian Television Network. To view the show on demand, go to www.tct.tv/demand.php, scroll down and click the "I'm Just Sayin' " icon. On DirecTV, it's channel 377. The show was taped in Chicago in October.

Thomas has spent the last four months on tour performing at venues in North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia and West Virginia. He has performed everywhere from churches and theaters to fashion shows and youth conferences.

"I'm hoping to hit arenas next year," he said. "I'd like to go big. I'm a dreamer."

Thomas grew up on Charleston's West Side and was one of three children born to Freda and Stephen Thomas, two of his biggest fans. In fact, his mother is his "road manager." Another manager, Corretta Allison, is based in California. His publicist, Bonita Bellamy, played a role in his upcoming appearance on national television.

For Thomas, it all began with his Christian upbringing.

"I grew up in a nondenominational church, and my mother raised me to be Bible based," he said.
He now attends All Nations Revival Center in Institute, where Pastor Frederick Hightower is his spiritual mentor along with elder Bruce Purnell.

He is quick to say he did not make it this far alone and rattles off a list of people who have offered advice and encouragement along the way. Among these is Jermaine Robinson, of Shackles Free Entertainment, who is a producer and "like a brother."

"I am grateful to all friends and family who have prayed for me and been there when I needed them," he said.
Thomas began recording music when he was 10 years old and started his first album at 15. By age 17, he had his own radio show. He's on the air at 6 a.m. each Sunday promoting the contemporary Gospel hour on West Virginia Radio Corp.'s WRVZ, 98.7 The Beat.

So, DJ was added to his list of accomplishments. He is also a drummer and pianist.

His latest album, entitled "Changes," was released this year with songs like "True Praiser Hustle Hard," "Gave Me Life," "Changes," and "I Praise Your Name." He writes his own songs and is currently working on a third album.

"I am an independent artist associated with Shackles Free Entertainment," he said. "I recorded 'Changes' with Jermaine Robinson at his studio in Raleigh, N.C. I've been on the Changes tour for the last four months."

While Thomas is happy to invest time in his music, he also has his eye on a college education. He left high school to pursue his musical career but eventually earned his GED. He now hopes to enroll in college and earn a business degree.

He wants young people to be aware of the importance of education and to stay in school.

"We all make mistakes," he said. "At the end of the day, education is the key."

He realizes that any accomplishment comes from faith and trusting God.

"God blesses a humble heart," he said.

Go to www.overcomingsteve.com to hear some music by Steve-O. - Charleston Daily Mail


"Capital junior gets own gig behind mike"

Tuesday February 23, 2010
Monica Orosz
Stephen Thomas takes to the airwaves at 98.7 FM The Beat every Sunday morning at 6 a.m. to play contemporary Gospel and Christian hip-hop music. The 17-year-old got the gig after making a good impression on station officials during a high school field trip.

CHARLESTON, W.Va.--Beware, friends and acquaintances of Stephen Thomas: You are likely to get early phone calls and text reminders about his Sunday morning radio show.

Thomas, 17, goes on each Sunday at 6 a.m. and he isn't about to do it alone. The Charleston teen will promote his contemporary Gospel hour to everyone and anyone.

"I'm a big Facebook person," he said. "I do Twitter."

He's been doing his radio show on the West Virginia Radio Corp.'s WRVZ, 98.7 The Beat for just a few weeks and Thomas wants it to succeed.

Beat DJ Woody Woods laughingly recalled hearing his cell phone beep early one morning.

"I'm like, 'Who is texting me this early?'" Woods recalled. "Oh, it's Stephen."

The gig arose out of a tour Thomas' sports marketing class at Capital High took to the station's Virginia Street offices last year.

The station's vice president and marketing director, Mike Buxser, recalls that Thomas held back after the group toured the studios.

"He says, 'I've got more questions,' " Buxser recalled. Thomas wanted to know how he could better promote and market his own singing career and learn more about broadcasting.

"I said I wanted to create a movement. My main genre is hip hop - why not do the positive side of it?"

Thomas, a Christian singer and rapper who uses the stage name Steve-O, has been recording music since he was 10. He started working on his first album at 15 and was already comfortable in a studio setting. - Monica Orosz


"Stephen Thomas Formally known as Steve-O Announces Return After Severe Accident"

The singer has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. His previous music was described as unique, fresh and exciting. Stephen Thomas, previously known as Steve-O has decided to return to the music world with a new sound, a sound that has excited the music industry.

Read more at the link above. - In2Town


"Artist Stephen Thomas releases first single from New Album"

Stephen Thomas releases first single from sophomore album Changes. Now available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and more. - Bellamy Group


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

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Bio

Stephen Thomas formally known as Steve-O is your New upcoming Artist from the Hills of Charleston, West Virginia who's music is spreading like a virus becoming known in many different countries, cities, and states worldwide. Stephen Thomas is impacting many stations and people with his New Single "Best Days" which is available in all digital stores and is preparing to get back on the road to promote the New Single. 

Stephen Thomas as a young artist has performed in front of thousands sharing the stage with some of the greatest Artists in the industry whom are listed below.

Stephen has found his first major success with True Praiser, a single from his Changes album, which was released in 2012 and features producer J. Robinson. That year he embarked on the Changes Tour as an independent artist. 

Stephen Thomas' latest single, Best Days, debuted in April and also received major success debuting #2 on the iTunes charts. It can now be heard on radio stations, online, and is available for download at iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

Stephen has already done interviews with Major TV Networks (MTV, Vibe Magazine, Hype Magazine TCT Network and so much more) at Red Carpet events, making appearances with some of the Biggest Stars in the Entertainment Industry during the 2014 BET Live Experience.Stephen's latest Music Video release Search Me Lord has received placement on Revolt TV (Sean Combs aka P. Diddy TV Network) playing in between 20 million - 30 million homes worldwide.

Stephen has had the Privilege of being Nominated for many awards (7x Nominee) as well as even winning an award (Breakthrough Artist of the Year) beating the likes of some of the world's most known Artists like Grammy, Stellar, and Dove Nominated and Winning Artists like Lecrae, Deitrick Haddon, Tye Tribbett, Canton Jones, Uncle Reece, and many more, recording as an independent artist. 

Stephen's latest release True Praiser a single from his sophomore project Changes released spring 2012 and features producing artist J. Robinson. Stephen has just finished up his First Tour *Changes Tour* as an Independent Artists during the year of 2012 and has been on the road nonstop and releasing music until the year of 2015, which Stephen has taken time from the road to work in the Studio and on a couple things towards his new project.

During the mid year of 2015 Stephen had suffered from some injuries due to a car accident but has been working on a speedily recovery and things have really been going well. However he has been back to now working hard in the Studio and back to the new projects that we can't wait for his fans to see and hear about. Let's just say he's back stronger, better, wiser, and ready to go harder than ever before.


Stephen is an Artist who will leave you breathless with his honest real talk style about the issues that he not only deals with as a young Artist who's a young Christian man, but what many others deal with as men and women who are Christians as well as people living their everyday lives. Don't make the same mistake as many others have done by putting this guy in a box, because You Can't! One minute you may hear this and within the next second you may hear that.

Stephen Thomas is such an amazing Versatile Artist that when it comes to his music he's very unpredictable. Not only is he a versatile artist but even during his performances you never know what to expect. Stephen's music makes a statement it's not just amazing lyrics, but lyrics that are sometimes so simple that really there so deep. His style of writing and the way he and his team makes music it contains so much edginess and is so much different than many artists today. 

Stephen Thomas is an Artist that hits the stage like no other. Thomas is Highly energetic, Motivational, Inspirational, and will leave you with such an amazing experience that the next time he's back in your city you won't know what to expect. Let's just say we hope you're ready.


If your looking for that great Artist that brings High energy performances every show, has Fun, brings great vibes, positivity, and more. Stephen Thomas is your guy. Book Stephen now while you still can.

(SEE FULL BIO @ www.stephentmusic.com)

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