Kiss You Everywhereby DeVarne Thomas

DeVarne (also known as DeVarne Thomas). . . grew up in the church choir and had been featured on numerous gospel recordings from a young age. But she left it behind. Years later, married and raising a family in a beautiful home in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, her well-trained pipes did not like to be neglected. Her husband, L.V. Thomas, knew from the way she would sing along with the component set that she needed an outlet. They knew nothing of the business when they booked her first show. Through friends of friends of friends, they cobbled together a band for her debut at the legendary Burning Spear at 79th and Stony Island. Never able to commit full time, they spent the next few years sneaking in a show every month or two. After issuing one 45 recorded with Ed Cody that was so hastily mixed down that they left the main bass part out altogether, the 12” containing “Kiss You Everywhere” and “Number One” was really DeVarne’s first crack at a recording career. Buddha showed interest, but failed to come through in the end, and the few 12”s pressed by L.V. remained merely a demo.