[5] After the Stylistics auditioned for Bell he was unimpressed, but he ultimately agreed to produce them, because he believed in the potential of Thompkins's soaring high tenor voice.

All of these songs (and everything the group ever recorded) were led by Thompkins, and with the exception of "You're a Big Girl Now", written and composed by Thom Bell and lyricist Linda Creed (1974's "You Make Me Feel Brand New", a No.

The lighter "pop" sound fashioned by Van McCoy and Hugo & Luigi gave the band a UK No.

[4] In 2002, he released a solo album entitled A Matter of Style, which includes cover versions of George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You" and the Thom Bell and Linda Creed song "Jealousy", originally recorded by Dionne Warwick.

They continue to tour and are featured on the DVD Old School Soul Party Live!, which was part of the PBS My Music series.

[citation needed] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Thompkins at number 142 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.