5 Things to Know About Irma Thomas’s First Grammy Win

She won in 2007 for Best Contemporary Blues Album. After more than 50 years of recording, Irma Thomas finally took home a Grammy for her album After the Rain.

The win came five decades into her career. Thomas started recording in the early 1960s, making this a long-overdue recognition.

She is known as the “Soul Queen of New Orleans.” Her powerful voice and emotional delivery defined her sound, but Grammy voters overlooked her for years.

The album was a comeback of sorts. After the Rain was her first studio album in over a decade, showcasing her enduring talent.

The category was contemporary blues, not soul. Though she is a soul legend, the win came in a blues category, reflecting her versatility.