Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas (born February 14, 1972; Landstuhl, West Germany on a U.S. military base) is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty and formerly of the band Tabitha's Secret. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist. Thomas earned three Grammy awards for co-writing and singing on the Carlos Santana triple-platinum hit "Smooth", the work he is best known for, on the album Supernatural in 1999..