From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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
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