Carl Thomas Performs Hymn During VERZUZ Battle
The R&B artist honored his church roots with a piano-backed rendition of I Need Thee Every Hour.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in R&B
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During the second round of his recent VERZUZ battle against Case, R&B singer Carl Thomas performed a snippet of the hymn I Need Thee Every Hour. The performance featured Thomas backed only by a piano at the Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles.
Why it matters
Thomas used the performance to highlight the influence of his childhood in the Church of God in Christ on his musical career. He noted that the melodies of songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey directly informed the writing of his own 2000 track, Come to Me.
Carl Thomas performed his 2000 track Come to Me following the hymn. The hymn performance began at the 6-minute timestamp of the round.
The players
Carl Thomas
Carl Thomas is an R&B singer known for his debut album Emotional and hits that defined the soulful sound of the early 2000s.
Case
Case is an R&B artist and songwriter who gained prominence in the 1990s with several hits that appeared on the Billboard charts.
Thomas A. Dorsey
Thomas A. Dorsey was a prolific composer and musician often referred to as the father of gospel music.
The details
Thomas transitioned from the hymn directly into his 2000 hit Come to Me during the event. He explicitly connected the R&B song to his upbringing in the Church of God in Christ, attributing his melodic style to the work of Thomas A. Dorsey.
Timeline
The VERZUZ event occurred on the night of Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This performance demonstrates how artists in the R&B genre continue to integrate gospel traditions, specifically those tied to the Church of God in Christ, into modern performance spaces. It reflects a trend where heritage and musical roots are prominently showcased during the high-visibility format of the VERZUZ platform.
Fans can view the archive of the performance through official streaming partners that host the event recordings. This provides listeners with a direct look at the musical influences shaping the artist's catalog.
The takeaway
Artists often draw from foundational religious training to build their contemporary sound. Listeners interested in the evolution of R&B can gain a deeper appreciation for modern tracks by researching the gospel composers who influenced their favorite singers.
Further reading
For more on recent performances in the genre, visit the R&B section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Complex.
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