Thomas Jefferson Edwards
October 15, 1922 – October 23, 1969
He was a prominent American singer and songwriter known for his significant contributions to the music industry. One of his most remarkable achievements was his hit record, “It’s All in the Game,” which sold millions of copies and made him the first African-American artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Career
Tommy Edwards, an R&B singer, gained widespread recognition for his 1958 hit, “It’s All in the Game,” which became one of the Billboard number-one singles of 1958. He performed this iconic song on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 14, 1958. Interestingly, the song’s melody, originally titled “Melody in A Major,” was composed by future U.S. Vice-President Charles G. Dawes in 1911, with lyrics added in 1951 by Carl Sigman. Edwards initially recorded the song in 1951, but it only reached No. 18 on the charts. The more well-known 1958 version, released on the same MGM record label and backed by the same orchestra leader, Leroy Holmes, featured a different arrangement, aligning it with the rock and roll style of that era. The song not only topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 but also reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart. Globally, it sold over 3.5 million copies, earning a gold disc in November 1958.
Another notable hit for Edwards was “Please, Mr. Sun” in 1959, reaching No. 11 on the charts. He also achieved success with “Love Is All We Need,” which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Although Edwards recorded various other songs, none matched the success of “It’s All in the Game.” However, some of his songs became hits for other artists, such as Elvis Presley’s rendition of “A Fool Such as I” and Cliff Richard and the Four Tops’ version of “It’s All in the Game.”
On October 23, 1969, at the age of 47, Tommy Edwards tragically passed away due to massive internal hemorrhaging caused by esophageal varices linked to cirrhosis of the liver. He is laid to rest at the Quioccasin Baptist Church Cemetery in Henrico, Virginia. Despite some discrepancies in birthdates, the 1930 census confirms his birth year as 1922. In recognition of his contributions, Edwards received a Virginia Highway Marker in 2008, and Richmond mayor L. Douglas Wilder proclaimed October 15, 2008, as “Tommy Edwards Day.”
In September 2012, Cherry Red Records label Shout released a 2-CD collection of Edwards’s work titled “It’s All in the Game (The MGM Recordings 1958–1960),” featuring his first four MGM albums and singles from the two years following the massive success of his hit single.
Country and Western Crossover Album
In 1961, Edwards made significant strides by releasing a groundbreaking studio album titled “Golden Country Hits.” This album, featuring country interpretations, preceded Ray Charles’ “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” and included covers of some of the same song selections, notably “You Don’t Know Me,” a popular crossover ballad by country songwriter Cindy Walker.
Partial Discography
Here is a partial list of Tommy Edwards’ albums:
- Tommy Edwards Sings—Regent MG 6096 (Mono only) – 1958
- It’s All in the Game—MGM E (Mono)/SE (Stereo) 3732 – 1958
- For Young Lovers—MGM E/SE 3670 – 1959
- You Started Me Dreaming—MGM E/SE 3805 – 1959
- Tommy Edwards—Lion L 70120 (Mono only) – 1959
- Tommy Edwards in Hawaii—MGM E/SE 3838 – 1960
- Stardust—MGM E/SE 4020 – 1960
- Step Out Singing—MEM E/SE 3822 – 1960
- Tommy Edwards’ Greatest Hits—MGM E/SE 3884 – 1961
- Tommy Edwards Sings Golden Country Hits—MGM E/SE 3959 – 1961
- Soft Strings and Two Guitars—MGM E/SE 4060 – 1962
- The Very Best of Tommy Edwards—MGM E/SE 4141 – 1963
- Tommy Edwards—Metro M (Mono)/MS (Stereo) 511 – 1965
(Note: This is a partial list of Tommy Edwards’ albums, representing some of his notable works.)