- Nicky Thomas
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Nicky Thomas Birth name Cecil Nicholas Thomas Born 30 May 1949 Origin Portland, Jamaica Died 1990 (aged 41) Genres Reggae Instruments Vocals Years active 1969–late 1980s Labels Trojan Nicky Thomas (born Cecil Nicholas Thomas, 30 May 1949, Portland, Jamaica[1] - died 1990) was a reggae singer who enjoyed considerable chart success in the 1970s.
Contents
Biography
After working as a labourer along with future members of The Gladiators, Thomas's break came with "Run Mr. Nigel Run", produced by Derrick Harriott.[2] This was followed by a successful association with producer Joe Gibbs, with hits following in the form of "God Bless The Children", "Mama's Song", "Rainy Night In Georgia" and "If I Had a Hammer".[2] He broke into the UK Top 10 in 1970 with his version of "Love of the Common People" which sold over 175,000 copies in the UK.[3][4] A concert tour followed, after which Thomas decided to stay in the United Kingdom, promoting a compilation album of his work with Gibbs, also entitled Love of the Common People. This was followed by his self-produced Tell It Like It Is album, featuring the near-hit "Yesterday Man", and "BBC", his commentary on the lack of airplay for reggae records on BBC Radio 1.[2]
Thomas continued recording commercial reggae, working with the likes of Lloyd Charmers. In 1974, he toured the UK backed by the musicians who would later go on to become Misty In Roots.[2]
Nicky Thomas committed suicide in 1990.[3]
Albums
- Love of the Common People (1970) Trojan
- Tell It Like It Is (1971) Trojan
- Images of You (1973) Trojan
- Doing The Moon Walk (1991) Trojan (compilation)
- Love of the Common People (2003) Trojan (compilation)
References
- ^ Leggett, Steve "Nicky Thomas Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, retrieved 6 December 2009
- ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin:"The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", 1998, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
- ^ a b Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 292
- ^ Nicky Thomas at Chart Stats. The single peaked at #9
External links
- Nicky Thomas at Roots Archives
Categories:- 1949 births
- 1990 deaths
- Musicians who committed suicide
- Jamaican reggae musicians
- People from Portland Parish
- Trojan Records artists
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