Imaj thrills crowd with beauty, grace, versatility

Hundreds gathered on a hillside at Wales Manor Vineyard and Winery just east of McKinney on Saturday night to be entertained in a variety of ways by one of North Texas' most versatile up-and-coming divas.

Country singer Collin Raye has described Imaj Thomas of Frisco as "country's next big star," and she proved she is true country and more as she performed before a cheering crowd beneath a starry sky.

Imaj, as she is known by her fans, began the show singing songs made famous by performers such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton.

But she had written more than half of the songs she sang throughout the night. The three acoustic songs she wrote and played on guitar are country and called "Fame," "Adam & Eve" and "Passport." Imaj wrote "Passport" with a hospice patient and put a Native American tone to it.

She kept the audience's attention not only with her voice, but with six wardrobe changes and the use of beautiful horses with riders from the Rendola Paso Fio Show Horses of Aubrey. At one point, she rode in front of the crowd on a stallion, dressed in a beautiful, long-flowing, multi-colored dress and singing an Italian opera piece in Italian.

She later sang in Spanish, English and Japanese and wowed the crowd with "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" in German.

She was accompanied most of the time on stage by Ron Grimes, an acoustic guitarist who helped propel LeAnn Rimes of Garland into the national spotlight with some of his own songs and who now appears headed toward helping Imaj also become a national star.

While Imaj interchanged her wardrobe, Grimes' own talent shone through with his rendition of songs such as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "How Great Thou Art."

Also on stage with Imaj at times were members of the Natural Bridges Band, with Stephen Bernd on the electric guitar, Bill Bernd on bass and Mike Norris on drums.

Imaj has opened for several Collin Raye concerts in recent weeks and will do so again in Kearney, Neb., Saturday night. She will also perform at the Country Music Association (CMA) Fest on June 10 in Nashville, Tenn., and will ride on a float in a parade there prior to the concert.

In addition to being a singer-songwriter, Imaj is a visual artist and novelist. Her book, "Harlow," is available at Barnes & Noble bookstores.

But her mother is most proud of her as a humanitarian.

"Even with everything going on with her music and touring, Imaj really goes out of her way to volunteer wherever she can, whether it be for children's hospitals, retirement homes or hospice, etc.," her mother said. "She is all about spreading love and world peace, and such is the message in the final song that she sang Saturday night, called 'Love Only Love.'"

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