Speech Thomas

Biography

Speech was born Todd Thomas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up on two sides of life: the ghetto of Milwaukee (one of the nation’s roughest cities for African Americans) and (Wauwatosa) Milwaukee’s suburbia. Speech learned how to draw from the pains and beauty of both. He would absorb the plights of his people and the retreat of a middle-class black boy in a primarily white neighborhood. He lost his grandmother to a heart attack and his older brother, Terrence Thomas, to an Asthma attack within the same week, and through spirituality, learned to recalibrate his inner anger through dynamic music. To celebrate the lives of those he lost, he coined his sound “life music”. Speech wrote the hit song ‘Tennessee’ as a dedication to his grandmother and brother. In the early 90s, Speech and his mother started the Terrence Thomas Scholarship and to date, the scholarship has raised over one million dollars helping young black students further their educations.

Speech started and produced the hip-hop group, Arrested Development. Based in Georgia, from humble and rural beginnings, the group became a pioneering force in the music world. Arrested Development received two Grammy Awards (Best New Artists and Best Rap Single 1993) for the album, “3 years, 5 months, and 2 days in the life of…” Their second album, “Zingalamaduni,” was met with critical acclaim and was also nominated for a Grammy award.

In 1995, the group disbanded and Speech signed a solo record deal with EMI. His first single “Like Marvin Gaye Said” shot to #1 on the Japanese Tokyo 100 charts for seven consecutive weeks. Speech has released five solo albums since, all of which have spawned Top 10 hit singles in Japan. His albums “1998 Hoopla” and “Spiritual People” were certified gold. “Spiritual People” was awarded the Best Black Music Album of the year 2000 by the acclaimed ADLIB magazine. Speech supported each album with sold-out tours.

Speech has also toured as a solo performer with Former US Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Youssou N’dour, James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Jason Mraz, Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Roots.

In 2020, Speech partnered with Resonant Pictures and Pipeline Entertainment to release the full-length documentary “16 Bars” where he goes into a maximum security jail to write music with inmates. This stirring documentary won numerous film festival awards and is now available through Lightyear Entertainment on streaming platforms worldwide.

In addition, Speech and Arrested Development have been honored with the following:

5x Grammy nominated, 2x Grammy winner
1992 Best New Artist
1992 Best Rap Performance by a Group “Tennessee”
Nominated Best R&B Performance by a Group “People Everyday”
Nominated Best Rap Performance by a Group from Spike Lee’s major motion picture Malcolm X ‘Revolution’
Nominated Best Rap Performance “Ease my Mind”

Videos

Request Availability

For Meeting Planners

Photos

Speaker Documents

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Mental Health Awareness: The Mark of a Modern Workplace

🌎✨ As we recognize World Mental Health Day, we're shining a spotlight on critical mental...

What’s Holding You Back from Managing Your Energy Effectively?

Have you ever wanted to get more energy in your day-to-day activities? https://youtu.be/hltabhE0QRM Have you...

Use Improv as a Mindfulness Practice and Improve your Well-Being

🌟 Mental Fitness Through Improv & Mindfulness 🌟 https://youtu.be/xuAhzUGZ438 Mental fitness is not just about...

Innovative Event Strategies to Inspire Your Attendees with Courtney Mesmer

https://youtu.be/1erTgGFdyW8 Watch this week’s podcast episode here: YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon...

Valuable Life Lessons from Parenting & Overcoming Failures

Learn valuable life lessons from overcoming failure and parenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJTIi-nhq60&list=PLXTlGHk63lLgbS8LN-PENXDzwMdqWAnOm "Life’s greatest lessons come from...

Pink October: Breast Cancer Awareness and the Power of Healing Our Emotional Histories

Pink October: Understanding the Connection Between Emotional Health and Breast Cancer This newsletter is brought...

Related Speakers

Nicole Malachowski First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, Fighter Squadron Commander, White House Fellow and Adviser, and Indomitable Spirit

Mark Schulman World-Renowned Drummer, Author, Motivator, Expert on The Secrets of Rockstar Performance

Willie Brown Two-Term Mayor of San Francisco, Legendary Speaker of the California State Assembly, and One of the Most Influential African-American Politicians of the Late 20th Century

Mia Hamm Olympic Soccer Gold Medalist and Women’s World Cup Winner

Ginger Kerrick First Latina Director of NASA Mission Control and 30-Year Veteran of the Johnson Space Center, Chief Strategy Officer of Barrios Technology, STEM Ambassador

Reviews & Ratings

     Excellent  
     Based on 74 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Tim Mooney 
 August 20, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth was on point and tremendous help before and after the event! Two thumbs up!
  
 
       
   Anthony Veneziale 
 August 14, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is the real deal -- he knows the best speakers to make sure your event is successful. I've had the pleasure of working with Seth and The Keynote Curators and he's top notch. Also, his podcast is chock full of great insights and important topics. Thanks Seth!!
  
 
       
   M.D Milloy 
 August 8, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is a great host, very inspirational and professional. Highly recommend!
  
 
       
   Aaron Farzam 
 August 3, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Keynote speaker searches have been overwhelmingl for me and my team.  Seth made the process easy.  Our expectations were exceeded. Great company. Highly recommended.
  
 
       
   Dante Fabro 
 July 29, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Keynote Speaker knowledge is unrivaled by Seth Dechtman and his team at The Keynote Curators.  If your event or conference requires a keynote speaker, call The Keynote Curators.  They are thorough and deliver the goods.  Seth makes sure that you get what you are looking for...in spades. Not to mention, Seth is very down to earth and speaks to people as equals. I really appreciate that. I'd recommend The Keynote Curators any day!
  
 
       
   Jamie Wright 
 July 25, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Found out about these folks through The Keynote Curators podcast - really great stuff!!
  
 
       
   Alison Levine 
 July 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great podcast with a wide variety of speakers, topics, and themes. You can learn something unexpected from every episode!
  
 
       
   Victoria Matey 
 June 27, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the pleasure of joining the Keynote Curators podcast as a guest. My experience collaborating with Seth and his team was great - fast, efficient, and most importantly, they are all wonderful human beings!
  
 
       
   Justin Chaffee 
 June 20, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Keybnote Curators and Seth Dechtman are a class act.

Timely, professional, and most of all hit the mark. Cannot recommend them with more emphasis.

If you need a speaker for your event conference or any program, do not hesitate to contact Seth and his team.
  
 
       
   Brandon Grimm 
 June 12, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth Deckman is the only Keynote Curator you’re ever going to need for your events and conferences that require the best Keynote speakers. His attention to detail and true concern about meeting your event’s needs to go above and beyond. I cannot recommend him highly enough call him as soon as you have your speaker need for your next conference or meeting.