Tressa Thomas

TRESSA THOMAS is a vocalist, actress, writer, and producer originally from Chicago, IL.

Her artistic career began to blossom at age seven, with more than fifty live performances across the country to her credit. By age 10, she was an official Brand Ambassador for ADIDAS Sportswear, and the youngest spokesmodel in the company’s history, where she traveled across Europe for more than 1-year, performing live concerts at numerous U.N. summits, art festivals, sports exhibitions, and international conventions.

After landing several cameo film roles, Tressa secured a starring role in Robert Townsend’s The Five Heartbeats, and quickly became a household name, with many film critics from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times referencing her particular scene as the most memorable performance in the film. The role also enabled Tressa to record with R&B legend Patti Labelle & Billy Valentine on the film’s soundtrack (Virgin Records).

Tressa’s other film and television credits include Flatliners (Columbia Pictures), Message In A Bottle (Warner Brothers), Townsend Television (FOX), Angel Street (CBS), The Little Richard Story (NBC), Love Hurts (ABC), Sweet Home Chicago (The CW Pilot), and numerous commercials, concert appearances, and syndicated television placements. In addition to Townsend, Tressa has worked with Luis Mandoki (film dir.), Joel Schumacher (film dir.), Jerry Mitchell (stage dir.), Kevin Wilson (choreographer), Lloyd Richards (stage dir.) and Kathy Najimy (stage & film dir.).

She has been featured live on British, Polish, Swedish, German, Austrian and Bulgarian television and has performed on stages throughout Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean Islands. Over her 20+ year career, she has provided background and lead vocals for Stevie Wonder, COMMON, Earth, Wind & Fire, Barbara Streisand, Brandy, Eddie Griffin, The Wayans Brothers, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight, just to name a few.

Tressa has recently enjoyed a stint in musical theater, with starring roles in Back To Bacharach & David (Dir. Kathy Najimy) at the Music Box Fonda Theatre in Hollywood and as a featured vocalist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She received rave reviews from dozens of national publications for her performance in Back To Bacharach & David. Tressa continues to star in performances at live venues throughout the world and is currently working on the production of her debut album, Hybrid Soul.

She currently continues to perform for Royal Caribbean, participates in Grammy® Spotlight Jam Sessions, and lectures young adults and women throughout the USA on positive self-image, confidence and artistic expression through her 501(c)3, non-profit performing arts organization, Beacon Of Light Artists Collective (BOLAC).