Carl Thomas' career took flight one fateful night in New York. The Chicago native sang with a band called The Formula back home, but he had moved to the Big Apple to pursue his musical dreams as a solo act. Thomas was singing at an open mic night when, by chance, his trademark raspy voice was heard by none other than Sean “Puffy” Combs. He was signed to Bad Boy Entertainment in 1997 and released his debut, Emotional, in 2000. Heralded by critics as an emotional rollercoaster, the album was a wide success, setting the stage for an R&B career that continues to this day.