“That Guy’s Not Here Anymore”: Carl Thomas on Verzuz, The Shy, and Growing Into His Legacy

Raheem DeVaughn was working the love lines on The Garden of Love when a caller with a Houston area code came on the air. Within seconds, DeVaughn recognized the voice. It was Carl Thomas.

The timing was fitting. One night earlier, DeVaughn had honored Thomas on “In Full Bloom,” the show’s segment for giving artists their roses while they can still receive them. Case, Thomas’s friendly rival, had appeared on the program the week before.

A Verzuz Built on Friendship

homas called his Verzuz matchup with Case, presented by Apple and Complex, “a very positive experience.” He said the producers gave both artists plenty of creative freedom. He also noted that he and Case have been friends for more than 30 years.

“I chose to approach it as a celebration of rhythm and blues,” Thomas said. He added that the night was for “all the people that never got an opportunity to see me do my thing.”

The broadcast led to a digital surge in his catalog. For Thomas, the bigger reward was personal. The show helped bridge his music to his son’s generation. His son is now 27, the same age Thomas was when he released Emotional in 2000.

He also revealed that the turtleneck moment fans loved was his wife’s idea.

Competing With His Younger Self

DeVaughn asked whether the legacy of Emotional creates pressure. Thomas said it does not. He explained that fans were not really watching him against Case. They were watching each man measure up to the artist he was in his 20s.

DeVaughn asked whether the legacy of Emotional creates pressure. Thomas said it does not. He explained that fans were not really watching him against Case. They were watching each man measure up to the artist he was in his 20s.

“That guy’s not here anymore,” Thomas said. He described himself as a middle-aged man enjoying where he is in life. He still writes about love and intimacy, and he still believes that showing emotion is a strength, not a weakness.

The Shy Is Finished

Thomas confirmed he was in the studio finishing new solo music. He also shared that The Shy, his group with Dave Hollister and Selena Johnson, has officially completed its album. The group was Hollister’s idea. It was first planned with Donell Jones before Johnson stepped in. Thomas praised her as one of the most respected vocalists in the industry. He also has projects underway with hip-hop artists on the West Coast.

Remembering Chucky Thompson

The conversation turned to the late producer Chucky Thompson, a mentor to DeVaughn and a key figure in the Bad Boy era. DeVaughn described that era as “a new millennial Motown.” Both men shared how deeply they miss him and how his influence still guides their work in the studio.

To close, DeVaughn asked for one essential song for the Carl Thomas “laylist.” Thomas chose Nat King Cole’s “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” a timeless pick from a singer who keeps honoring the greats.