At this point, Irma Thomas needs little or no introduction to New Orleanians or the readers of OffBeat. The quintessential entertainer, for over four decades she’s been regally, and rightfully referred to as "The Soul Queen of New Orleans." Over the years she’s absorbed several of the blows the music industry tends to inflict, but she’s always managed to bounce back.

With the exception of Fats Domino, today Thomas is the most popu...