{{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Nkrumah Manley Thomas | image = JahThomas.jpg | caption = | image_size = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|8|17|df=y}} | death_date = | origin = Kingston, Jamaica | instrument = Vocals, Producer | genre = [[Reggae]] | occupation = | years_active = 1970s to present | label = | website = }}
'''Nkrumah "Jah" Thomas''' (born 1955, Kingston, Jamaica) is a [[reggae]] [[Deejay (Jamaican)|deejay]] and [[record producer]] who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own ''Midnight Rock'' and ''Nura'' labels.
==Biography== Named Nkrumah after [[Ghanaian]] nationalist leader [[Kwame Nkrumah]], he adopted the stage name Jah Thomas and began deejaying in the mid-1970s, working with producers such as [[Alvin Ranglin]], who released his single "Midnight Rock", which topped the Jamaican chart in 1976.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae |year= 1998 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0242-9 }}</ref><ref name="Barrow">{{cite book |last=Barrow |first=Steve |author2=Dalton, Peter |title=Reggae: The Rough Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1-85828-247-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reggaeroughguide00barro }}</ref> Thomas's debut album, ''Stop Yuh Loafin''' gained international recognition via a release on the newly formed [[Greensleeves Records]] label.<ref name="Larkin" /> Further deejay albums appeared in the late 1970s, before Thomas began concentrating on producing other artists, that included: [[Robert Ffrench]], Anthony Johnson, [[Triston Palma]], [[Johnny Osbourne]], [[Michael Palmer (musician)|Michael Palmer]], [[Barry Brown (singer)|Barry Brown]], [[Barrington Levy]], [[Sugar Minott]], [[Early B]], [[Ranking Toyan]], and Robin Hood, at the same time setting up the ''Midnight Rock'' record label, one of the most successful performer-owned labels of the period.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Barrow" /> Midnight Rock soon had a hit record in the shape of Thomas's "[[Cricket Lovely Cricket]]".<ref name="Barrow" /> Thomas would often use the mixing talents of [[Scientist (musician)|Scientist]], and the [[Roots Radics]] band.<ref name="Barrow" /> He later also set up the ''Nura'' label.<ref name="Barrow" />
He is the father of reggae singer [[Da'Ville]] and singer/producer Dwight Thomas.<ref>Walker, Karyl (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Dwight-Thomas-goes-with-the-rhythm_16775526 Dwight Thomas goes with the rhythm]", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 7 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014</ref>
==Discography== *''Stop Yuh Loafin''' (1978) Greensleeves *''Dance on the Corner'' (1979) Midnight Rock *''Nah Fight Over Woman'' (1980) Tad's *''Black Ash Dub'' (1980) [[Trojan Records|Trojan]] (with [[The Revolutionaries]]) *''Tribute to the Reggae King'' (1981) Midnight Rock *''Dance Hall Connection'' (1982) Silver Camel *''Dance Hall Stylee'' (1982) Daddy Kool/Silver Camel *''Shoulder Move'' (1983) Midnight Rock * ''Jah Thomas Meets Scientist in Dub Conference'' (1996) Munich * ''Triston Palmer Meets Jah Thomas in Discostyle'' (1996) Munich * ''Jah Thomas Meets King Tubby Inna Roots of Dub'' (1997) Rhino * ''Jah Thomas Meets The Roots Radics Dubbing'' (1999) Trojan * ''Jah Thomas meets Barrington Levy inna Dancehall Style'' [[Culture Press]] * ''King Tubby's Hidden Treasure''(1999) Trojan (Jah Thomas & The Roots Radics) * ''Lyrics For Sale'' Rhino * ''Prophecy of Dub'' Abraham (Jah Thomas & The Roots Radics) *''Jah Thomas Meets King Tubby in the House of Dub'' Majestic Reggae *''[http://www.myreggaespace.com/jah_thomas Roots Dancehall Party] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203232921/http://www.myreggaespace.com/Jah_Thomas/ |date=3 February 2010 }}'' (2003) Silver Kamel *''[http://www.myreggaespace.com/jah_thomas Big Dance A Keep] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203232921/http://www.myreggaespace.com/Jah_Thomas/ |date=3 February 2010 }}'' (2005) Silver Kamel *''[http://www.myreggaespace.com/jah_thomas Big Dance Dub] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203232921/http://www.myreggaespace.com/Jah_Thomas/ |date=3 February 2010 }}'' (2005) Silver Kamel *''[http://www.myreggaespace.com/jah_thomas Liquid Brass] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203232921/http://www.myreggaespace.com/Jah_Thomas/ |date=3 February 2010 }}'' (2005) Silver Kamel *''Jah Thomas Presents...'' (2007) Ras Sta Reggae *''Jah Thomas Meets...'' (2007) Ras Sta Reggae *''Jah Thomas Meets...'' (2021) Dub of Dubs
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080417110100/http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/214 Jah Thomas at Roots Archives]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Jah}} [[Category:1955 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Musicians from Manchester Parish]] [[Category:Jamaican reggae musicians]] [[Category:Greensleeves Records artists]] [[Category:Trojan Records artists]]