Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracey Thomas
Hi Tracey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my career as lead singer of the “Akron Sound” band Unit 5, we released our album, Scared Of The Dark, on Clone Records in 1981. I went solo in 1994 and released my first album, Standing Alone, that year. Since then I have penned 9 original albums including 2025’s Words Can’t Save Us Now. I also have a Best of, and 2 live albums. I still play live in NE Ohio. In 2023 I put together a band of all women, over the age of 50 called The Crones. We do cover songs of 1980’s female fronted new wave and punk bands. In 2025 I wrote my memoir titled, Little Miss Akron which is available on my website traceythomasmusic.com. I have shared the stage with Judy Collins, Melanie, The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach solo, The Dead Boys and The Waitresses, more over the years I’ve since forgotten. My family is very musical, my 3 grown children are all singer/songwriters two of them are performing in NE Ohio area and my youngest Daughter in NYC. In March of 2025 I was awarded the outstanding artist in music award for 2025 by Akron Alive and The Summit Art Space, for outstanding work in my field.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because I deal with anxiety, OCD and PTSD my journey has been very difficult at times. I have been performing since the age of 16 and now at the age of 65 I still have terrible stage fright. For many years I used wine before shows to calm my nerves, that’s the only way I could get up there but now I don’t drink and I am 6 shows into playing with nothing to ease the fears so it has been very hard. While I don’t consider myself an alcoholic, I have learned that I did use a glass of wine or two to create a false sense of confidence, that has been hard to shake, but it has been very worth it. I talk about my struggles in my memoir, I think a lot of people can relate and I hope they get something out of it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter, I like to think I am known for my writing, my lyrics. I am not sure I am exactly set apart from others, if I am it may be because I am 65 and still working. I am most proud of the longevity and that I still have a loyal audience. In my band The Crones that is my side project, I am known for being able to replicate a cover song, I’m a bit of a mimic in that role and it’s very challenging but I’ve worked very hard to hone that skill, so I am also proud of that. For the most part I believe I am known for being a singer/songwriter.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
There are things that I really like to listen to, I have always been an avid reader. I always have a book going. I love everything from Dickens to Jane Austen, to many non fiction topics. I love the podcast Otherworld, about supernatural goings on. Because I have been in my profession for so long, I have most of what I do down, somewhat past the learning stage although something may come up that finds me needing to learn something to continue. Keeping up with social media and technology certainly keeps me researching the ins and outs of that. I am lucky to have people that handle a lot of that for me so mainly I listen to podcasts and read for entertainment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://traceythomasmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/traceythomasmusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/traceythomasmusic
