Forrest Melvill Thomas Jr.[2] (April 21, 1953 – September 9, 2013),[1] known professionally as Forrest, was an American singer, based in the Netherlands.
Life and career
Born in Galveston, Texas,[1] where he sang in church during childhood, he moved to Los Angeles, California as a teen and won several contests there as a singer. After this stage in his career, he moved to the Netherlands, where he had a hit in 1983 with the song "Rock the Boat", a cover of the Hues Corporation's 1974 No. 1 US hit. His version peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart[3] and in his native United States at No. 9 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[4]
A second single, "Feel the Need in Me" (originally by the Detroit Emeralds), was a hit in the UK, reaching No. 17.[3] A third single, "One Lover (Don't Stop the Show)", peaked at No. 67 in the UK.[2]
He and his wife, Manon Thomas [nl], a television presenter had two sons, but later separated, after which he began to concentrate again on music. He sang in R.E.S.P.E.C.T., a theatre show, in 2001, dedicated to 1960s soul music. He was asked by DJ Roog to front the band Planet Hardsoul, who had a minor hit with their cover of "Where Did Our Love Go".[citation needed]
In December 2012, Thomas married again, to Diana van Lippen.
Death
On September 9, 2013, Forrest died of a stroke in a hospital in Tilburg, Netherlands, aged 60.[1]
