Jah Thomas

Jah Thomas

Jah Thomas is a reggae and dancehall artist and producer from Kingston, Jamaica. Born Nkrumah Thomas in 1955, he takes his stage name from Kwame Nkrumah, the Ghanaian nationalist leader. He becomes active in the Kingston music scene in the mid-1970s and works across the roots era of the 1970s and the dancehall period of the 1980s.

Early recording work

Thomas begins recording at Channel One, where he works alongside other young DJs and toasters in the style of U-Roy, Big Youth and Dillinger. Channel One also features singers such as Gregory Isaacs, John Holt and Leroy Smart, and vocal groups including the Wailing Souls and the Mighty Diamonds. Thomas later records for Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson at their Retirement Crescent studio.

His first major Jamaican hit is “Midnight Rock”, produced by GG Ranglin in 1976. He later uses that title for his own Midnight Rock label. Other successful DJ sides follow, including “Cricket Lovely Cricket”, which uses Slim Smith’s “My Conversation” rhythm, a rhythm also used by Lone Ranger and Barrington Levy.

Albums and labels

Thomas signs to the London-based Greensleeves label and releases his debut album, Stop Yu Loafin', in 1978. He also issues albums on Daddy Kool and Abraham, including Dance Hall Style and Dance on the Corner. His recording style is described as gruff and close to the singing-toasting approach associated with Big Youth.

Producing work

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Thomas is also established as a producer for singers and DJs. He works with Ranking Toyan and Early B, and produces recordings by Michael Palmer, Barrington Levy, Barry Brown, Little John, Johnny Osbourne and Sugar Minott. Among his biggest productions are Tristan Palmer’s “Entertainment” and “Joker Smoker” in 1981, and Anthony Johnson’s “Gun Shot” in 1982.

Midnight Rock and dub

Thomas’s Midnight Rock sessions feature the Roots Radics as his main backing band. The group includes Errol “Flabba” Holt, “Style” Scott, Eric “Bingy Bunny” Lamont, Gladstone Anderson, Bobby Ellis and Bongo Herman, among changing personnel. Roots Radics become closely associated with the early dancehall sound, and Thomas uses them on many of his productions and dub releases.

He also works extensively in dub with King Tubby, whose mixes turn several of Thomas’s rhythms into notable dub versions. Their albums include King Tubby’s Hidden Treasure, Jah Thomas Meets King Tubby in the House of Dub, Inna Roots of Dub and Jah Thomas Meets the Roots Radics Dubbing. Thomas also works with Scientist on releases such as the rare Roots Splashdown and Jah Thomas Meets Scientist in Dub Conference, with additional mixing contributions from Soljie and Peter Chemist.

Later activity

Thomas makes some contributions in the 1990s, including work associated with Gregory Isaacs and Shabba, but his later profile is low-key. Reissue compilations such as Midnight Rock Collection: Dance Hall Connection, Midnight Rock Presents Reggae Veterans and Tristan Palmer Meets Jah Thomas in Disco Style Entertainment keep his recordings in circulation.