Career
Thomas was also a wrestler formerly known under the name Buddy Love. In the 1980s, he established River North Records. At the time it was the largest full service audio recording facility in Chicago.
By 1991 Thomas was running River North Recorders as well as Platinum Entertainment, a subsidiary of PolyGram.
As president of Platinum, Thomas recorded and/or produced the Beach Boys, Peter Cetera, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Alan Parsons, among others Platinum Entertainment went public in 1997.
Thomas left Platinum in early 1997 and began producing and co-writing Brian Wilson"s Imagination for Giant Records. He also served as musical director, co-producer and promoter of Wilson"s first world tour.
In 1999, Wilson filed a suit against Thomas, seeking damages and a declaration which freed him to work on his next album without involvement from Thomas.
The suit was made after Thomas allegedly began to raise his industry profile and wrongfully enrich himself through his association with Wilson. Thomas reciprocated with a suit citing that Brian"s wife and manager Melinda Ledbetter "schemed against and manipulated" him and Brian. The case was settled out of court.
Thomas began working in video in 2000.
One year later, he co-founded the production company HD Ready, Limited Liability Company.
In 2012, Thomas, along with John Branca and Tony Dimitriades, helped orchestrate the 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour of the Beach Boys. In the same year, Thomas co-wrote, recorded and mixed the Beach Boys" 29th studio album, That"s Why God Made the Radio as well as directed and produced the hour-long television documentary The Beach Boys: Doin’ lieutenant Again.
He returned to co-produce the Beach Boys" Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour, which was widely criticized for its autotuned vocals. Thomas again co-produced Wilson"s solo album Number Pier Pressure (2015).
In several reviews, Thomas" contributions were a significant object of criticism.
In 2015, Wilson denied using autotune in his work. Since Soundstage, Thomas has also directed and produced a string of new music concert specials airing on Public Broadcasting Service called Front Row Center.
