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Jamo Thomas is an American soul music and funk singing, best remembered for his 1966 hit single, "I Spy (For the FBI)".
Born in either The Bahamas or Chicago, he recorded for several different between 1965 and 1976. His billing sometimes included his name alongside backing musicians, known as his Party Brothers Orchestra, or simply as Mr. Jamo. His biggest successes were "Bahama Mama" and a cover version of "I Spy (For the FBI)".
His next recording, "I Spy (For the FBI)", produced by Monk Higgins and Burgess Gardner and released on the small Thomas label (owned by Eddie Thomas), peaked at number 98 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It was re-issued on Polydor Records in the United Kingdom in 1969, when it reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart. The track proved to be his only appearance in either Record chart. The song was written by Herman Kelley and Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, and was originally recorded by Luther Ingram a few months prior to Thomas' version.
Thomas later moved to Philadelphia and recorded for Perception Records. By 1972, he was acting in a promotional capacity for Stax Records. His recording career finished more or less in the mid-1970s, although Thomas was later credited as an arrangement for an Ella Washington gospel music album. He re-appeared in 1983 for a 12-inch outing on the small Emerald International label called "(My Jive) Backstabbing Friend". His human voice was used on the opening of the track "Scream" on Graham Central Station's 1979 Warner Bros. album, Star Walk.
His work has appeared on various compilation albums over the years, including Spy Magazine Presents: Spy Music, Vol. 1 (1994), Chess Club Rhythm & Soul (1996) and Shake What You Brought! SSS Soul Collection (2005).
In addition to the Ingram and Thomas versions of "I Spy (For the FBI)", the song has been recorded by The Untouchables, Blue Rondo à la Turk and John Hiatt.
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