The widely recognised pop-singer Rob Thomas returns to Australia’s shores – and more specifically Victoria’s countryside – this November for A Day On The Green to charm and entertain us with the release of his latest album, Chip Tooth Smile. Rob Thomas has enjoyed a career juggling his solo works and being the frontman of rock band Matchbox Twenty. With his fourth solo album having been released earlier this year and his upcoming Australia tour and festival run, we thought we’d let our Melbourne coach hire experts tell you a few things about the musician that you probably didn’t know.
1. He’s had a lot of #1’s
23 of Rob Thomas’ singles have held top 10 spots on various charts through his eight-album career. That’s a mind-boggling amount of top 10 singles for just eight albums in just over twenty years. Some of these singles include Bent (which was his first single to go gold) and Lonely No More (which was his first top 10 single as a solo artist).
2. He never used to speak about his personal life
In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Thomas spoke about how he never believed his personal life was anyone’s business. This began to slowly change with the release of his second solo album Cradlesong.
3. “That” song won him three Grammys
You know which one we’re talking about. The song Smooth was released in 1999 and featured Latin guitar icon, Carlos Santana. It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned Thomas three Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. During its 12-week tenure at #1, it actually crossed the millennium – becoming the last #1 of the 1990s and the first of the 2000s.
4. Santana was reluctant at first
Carlos Santana hadn’t had a hit in over a decade at the time and was reluctant to work with Thomas as he’d never heard of him before. He was finally convinced by producer Matt Serletic – who had worked on Matchbox Twenty’s first album with Thomas – to let him have a go on the song. Within two days of playing it through together, Santana was convinced. That year, his album won eight Grammy awards – including Album of the Year, making Carlos Santana the first Hispanic artist to win it.
5. Smooth was co-written by an outside party
Though it featured on Santana’s 1999 album Supernatural, Smooth was actually written by Rob Thomas and composer Itaal Shur. The Song of the Year Grammy was actually awarded to both of them. Shur wrote the song after he was called in by the record company to listen to Satana’s recently finished album. He felt like something was missing from it and wrote Smooth.
No one loved the lyrics, however, and so – much to Shur’s dismay – the instrumentals were sent to Thomas who wrote the verses and then collaborated with Shur on the chorus. Though Shur was reluctant at first having his song altered by someone else, they both got along quite well once they met and worked on it together.
6. He runs a charity with his wife
Thomas and his wife, Marisol, established the charity Sidewalk Angels in 2003 to help various types of grassroots groups across the USA. The charity funds everything from animal rescue shelters to childhood health and contributing to the fight against homelessness. Sidewalk Angels is the primary supporter of several no-kill animal shelters across the USA.
Looking to get to A Day on the Green?
A Day On The Green is a great day filled with friends, music and good times. With Rob Thomas headlining this year, it’s sure to be nothing short of fantastic. If you’re not sure how to get there, though, why not consider Melbourne On The Move’s coach hire services?
Our Melbourne coach hire service is a premium mode of transportation that takes the worry out of getting to and from A Day On The Green. Our comfortable and modern coaches will allow you to relax or hang out with your friends – that way you can enjoy yourself at the festival.
If you would like to know more about our Melbourne coach hire services, then please give us a call on 1300 558 686. Alternatively, you may also get in contact with us by filling out the enquiry form on our website.