A one-time Miss Teen San Diego, Thelma Camacho was still attending high school when appearing in Starlight Theatre productions like The King and I and singing in area classical and opera productions and at weddings. She then took up singing in folk-pop bands like the Young Americans and the New Christy Minstrels.
In 1967, at age 18, she joined The First Edition, alongside Kenny Rogers, Terry Williams and Mike Settle, staying for two years and performing on three albums, as well as appearing with them on the Smothers Brothers TV show. Credited with penning around a half dozen First Edition tracks, she later signed with Casablanca Records and released a self-titled album in 1980, though the single for “I Came A Long Way To Be With You” failed to chart. She subsequently retired from the music business.
As of 2016, Camacho was operating a jewelry shop in San Diego's Spanish Village.