Ruddy Thomas

Ruddy Thomas

Ruddy Thomas (12 July 1951 - 10 June 2006) was a Jamaican reggae singer, musician, and recording engineer, who had his greatest successes as a singer in the late 1970s and early 1980s with lovers rock songs.

Biography
Thomas worked for producer Joe Gibbs in the 1970s, running and arranging recording sessions, and providing percussion and backing vocals. He recorded several singles for Gibbs, including "Every Day Is a Holiday", "Let's Make a Baby" and a version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper". Thomas's version of "Loving Pauper" was the number one song of the year on the 1978 RJR Top 100. He had a number one reggae hit in the United Kingdom in 1981 with "Just One Moment Away". In 1983, he recorded the duet "(You Know How to Make Me) Feel So Good" with Susan Cadogan, which topped the reggae charts and was followed in 1984 by another duet with Cadogan, "Only Heaven Can Wait", and an album. Thomas also recorded duets with J.C. Lodge ("Time for Love"), Marcia Aitken ("The Closer I Get to You"), Pam Hall ("You Can't Hide") and Cynthia Schloss ("Don't Want to Lose You", "How Can I Let You Get Away", and "There Is a Fire"). Thomas provided backing vocals on several albums, including Peter Tosh's No Nuclear War. He was also part of the horn section on Cornell Campbell's 1982 album What's Happening To Me. Thomas later joined Tommy Cowan's Talent Corporation roster. Thomas also acted as recording engineer on many releases by the likes of Boris Gardiner, Leroy Smart, Sugar Minott, The Wailing Souls, Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown, Frankie Paul, and Dean Fraser. He was also credited with co-producing the 1982 album Superstar Yellowman Has Arrived With Toyan. He died after suffering a heart attack while performing at the Popular Song Contest Street Blocker at Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica.

Discography (5)

Credits & Appearances (102)

Production
Producer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Superstar Yellowman Has Arrived With Toyan Superstar Yellowman Has Arrived With Toyan Superstar Yellowman Has Arrived With Toyan JGML 6063 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Technicians
Engineer 35
The Promised Land
Blood And Fire • 1977-79
Black Horn Man
Joe Gibbs • 1978
Bible
Virgin • 1978
Messenger Man
Drum Street • 1980
Buro
CSA • 1983
Que Dem
Sonic Sounds • 1985
We Rule
Power House • 1985
Tidal Wave
Greensleeves • 1985
River To The Bank
Power House • 1985
Who Done It
Third World • 1985
Old Fire Stick
Power House • 1986
Sticks And Stones
Macca Music • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
The Promised Land Dennis Brown The Promised Land BAFCD 039 CD Blood And Fire 1977-79 2002
Guidance The Meditations Guidance TRDLP 101579 LP Tad's 1978 1979
Black Horn Man Dean Fraser Black Horn Man JGML 6420 LP Joe Gibbs 1978 1978
Bible Prince Hammer Bible FL 1004 LP Virgin 1978 1978
Meet The People Lloyd Parks & We The People Meet The People LP 84221 LP Parks 1978 1978
Words Of Wisdom Dennis Brown Words Of Wisdom LASL 1 LP Laser 1979 1979
Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours Dennis Brown Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours DEB 002 LP DEB 1979 1979
African Dub Chapter 4 Joe Gibbs & The Professionals African Dub Chapter 4 LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Born To Love You Derrick Harriott Born To Love You LP 1007 LP Crystal D 1979 1979
Double Dynamite Willie 'String Picker' Lindo & Dean 'Youth Sax' Fraser Double Dynamite LP 1000 LP Crystal D 1979 1979
The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 2 Dennis Brown The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 2 JGML 6054 LP Joe Gibbs 197X 1982
Messenger Man Willy Williams Messenger Man INLP 1953 LP Drum Street 1980 1980
Midnight Rock General Plough Midnight Rock BDLP 0001 LP Clappers 1980 1983
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around JGML 6010 LP Joe Gibbs 1981 1981
Clive Hunt Ruff'N'Tuff Various Artists Clive Hunt Ruff'N'Tuff INLP 3 LP Intense 1982 1982
Sinbad & The Metric System Peter Metro & Captain Sinbad With Little John Sinbad & The Metric System CSLP 6 LP CSA 1983 1983
Buro Buro Buro CSLP 4 LP CSA 1983 1983
Rockers Awards Winners Sugar Minott & Leroy Smart Rockers Awards Winners GREL 84 LP Greensleeves 1984 1985
Fire Burn Them Below Charlie Chaplin Fire Burn Them Below none LP Power House 1984 1984
You Are Always On My Mind Barbara Jones You Are Always On My Mind DY 3446 LP Dynamic Sounds 1984 1984
Que Dem Charlie Chaplin Que Dem SON 004 LP Sonic Sounds 1985 1985
Beres Hammond Beres Hammond Beres Hammond CRLP 1 LP Charm 1985 1985
We Rule Michael Palmer We Rule none LP Power House 1985 1985
Tidal Wave Frankie Paul Tidal Wave GREL 79 LP Greensleeves 1985 1985
River To The Bank Little John River To The Bank none LP Power House 1985 1985
Who Done It Winston Wright Who Done It TDWD 25 LP Third World 1985 1985
The Dean Of Reggae Delroy Wilson The Dean Of Reggae LP Mister Tipsy 1985 1985
Country Reggae, Reggae Country Cynthia Schloss Country Reggae, Reggae Country JWLP 03 LP J&W 1985 1985
Checkin' Out The Hits Derrick Harriott Checkin' Out The Hits CLP 1013 LP Crystal D 1985 1985
Everything To Me Boris Gardiner Everything To Me LP Creole 1986 1986
Old Fire Stick Frankie Jones Old Fire Stick none LP Power House 1986 1986
Sticks And Stones Kotch Sticks And Stones none LP Macca Music 1986 1986
Girls Them Pet Yellowman Girls Them Pet DSR 7887 LP Taxi 1986 1986
There Is A Reward King Sounds & The Israelites There Is A Reward KSILP 003 LP King Sounds 198X
The War Is On Dub Style Bobby Kalphat The War Is On Dub Style SSLP 1007 LP Phil Pratt 198X
Mixing Engineer 15
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Universal Message Sons Of Jah Universal Message NCLP 001 LP Natty Congo 1982 1982
Baby Come Rock The Wailing Souls Baby Come Rock JGM 6072 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1983
Tell It Like It Is Jackie Edwards Tell It Like It Is SDLP 905 LP Starlight 1982 1982
Rockers Awards Winners Sugar Minott & Leroy Smart Rockers Awards Winners GREL 84 LP Greensleeves 1984 1985
Wha We A Go Do Tony Tuff Wha We A Go Do LP Top Rank 1984 1984
Bank Account Leroy Smart Bank Account none LP Power House 1985
Pull It Up Now Michael Palmer Pull It Up Now GREL 83 LP Greensleeves 1985 1985
Time Longer Than Rope Sugar Minott Time Longer Than Rope GREL 88 LP Greensleeves 1985 1985
Watermelon Man Horace Martin Watermelon Man none LP Mister Tipsy 1985
10 Million Sellers In Reggae Barbara Jones 10 Million Sellers In Reggae TRA 6002 LP Top Rank 1985 1985
Everything To Me Boris Gardiner Everything To Me LP Creole 1986 1986
Sticks And Stones Kotch Sticks And Stones none LP Macca Music 1986 1986
It's All Over Paula Clarke It's All Over WBLP 002 LP W&B 1986 1986
First Class George Faith First Class LP Top Rank 1986 1986
Mother Africa Hugh Griffiths Mother Africa none LP Steppers 198X
Recording Engineer 4
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Merry Christmas The Blues Busters Merry Christmas WB 132 LP Weed Beat 1983 1983
Negril General Trees Negril none LP Black Scorpio 1986 1986
It's All Over Paula Clarke It's All Over WBLP 002 LP W&B 1986 1986
Crossfire Chalice Crossfire LP CTS 1986 1986
Musicians
Backing Vocals 9
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Colour Is Not The Answer B.B. Seaton Colour Is Not The Answer JALP 002 LP Jama 1976 1976
Tonight! Carl Malcolm Tonight! LP AE 101 LP Abcan 1978 1978
Reggae Classics Delroy Wilson Reggae Classics LDLP 004 LP Londisc 1984 1984
Are You Ready Jimmy Reid Are You Ready LDLP 009 LP Londisc 1985 1985
The Dean Of Reggae Delroy Wilson The Dean Of Reggae LP Mister Tipsy 1985 1985
10 Million Sellers In Reggae Barbara Jones 10 Million Sellers In Reggae TRA 6002 LP Top Rank 1985 1985
Gold Busters In Reggae Delroy Wilson Gold Busters In Reggae LP Top Rank 1985 1985
It's All Over Paula Clarke It's All Over WBLP 002 LP W&B 1986 1986
No Nuclear War Peter Tosh No Nuclear War 538 852-2 CD EMI 1987
Horns 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
What's Happening To Me Cornell Campbell What's Happening To Me JGML 6055 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Organ 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tonight! Carl Malcolm Tonight! LP AE 101 LP Abcan 1978 1978
Percussions 30
Comp. Forward
Alligator • 1969-76
Comp. Nutin Na Gwan
Joe Gibbs Europe • 1975-79
Three Piece Suit
Joe Gibbs • 1977
African Herbsman
Joe Gibbs • 1979
Majestic Dub
IBC Reggae • 1979
More Culture
Joe Gibbs • 1981
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Forward The Abyssinians Forward AL 8305 LP Alligator 1969-76 1982
No Bones For The Dogs Joe Gibbs Featuring The Professionals & Errol Thompson No Bones For The Dogs PSCD 37 CD Pressure Sounds 1974-79 2002
African Dub All-Mighty Joe Gibbs African Dub All-Mighty LIP 10 LP Lightning 1975 1978
Nutin Na Gwan Sylford Walker Nutin Na Gwan JGECD 008 CD Joe Gibbs Europe 1975-79 2006
Three Piece Suit Trinity Three Piece Suit none LP Joe Gibbs 1977 1977
African Dub All-Mighty Chapter 3 Joe Gibbs African Dub All-Mighty Chapter 3 LIP 12 LP Lightning 1978 1978
Meet The People Lloyd Parks & We The People Meet The People LP 84221 LP Parks 1978 1978
Tonight! Carl Malcolm Tonight! LP AE 101 LP Abcan 1978 1978
African Herbsman I Roy African Herbsman LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours Dennis Brown Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours DEB 002 LP DEB 1979 1979
African Dub Chapter 4 Joe Gibbs & The Professionals African Dub Chapter 4 LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Majestic Dub Joe Gibbs Majestic Dub 4B064-62148 LP IBC Reggae 1979 1979
The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 2 Dennis Brown The Best Of Dennis Brown Part 2 JGML 6054 LP Joe Gibbs 197X 1982
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 VPCD 4159 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 VPCD 4160 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 VPCD 4161 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 VPCD 4168 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 VPCD 4169 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
It Feels So Good Welton Irie It Feels So Good JGML 6043 LP Joe Gibbs 1980 1980
International Slackness Sam Carty & The Astronauts International Slackness N 001 LP Nura 1981 1981
More Culture Culture More Culture JGML 6038 LP Joe Gibbs 1981 1981
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around JGML 6010 LP Joe Gibbs 1981 1981
Children In Exile Desi Roots Children In Exile HLP 009 LP Hawkeye 1982 1982
Reggae Hits Of The 80's Various Artists Reggae Hits Of The 80's JGML 6059 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Life Style Barrington Levy Life Style GG 032 LP GG's 1983 1983
When I've Got You Ruddy Thomas When I've Got You HLP 010 LP Hawkeye 1983 1983
Merry Christmas The Blues Busters Merry Christmas WB 132 LP Weed Beat 1983 1983
Give Me Some More Loving Bunny Maloney Give Me Some More Loving HM 115 LP Moods 1985 1985
All I Have Is Love, Love, Love Gregory Isaacs All I Have Is Love, Love, Love TRDLP 15586 LP Tad's 1986 1986
It's All Over Paula Clarke It's All Over WBLP 002 LP W&B 1986 1986
Tambourine 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Born To Love You Derrick Harriott Born To Love You LP 1007 LP Crystal D 1979 1979
Vocals 3
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
First Time Around Ruddy Thomas First Time Around JGML 6010 LP Joe Gibbs 1981 1981
When I've Got You Ruddy Thomas When I've Got You HLP 010 LP Hawkeye 1983 1983
Reggae By Ruddy Thomas Ruddy Thomas Reggae By Ruddy Thomas LP 690 006 LP Friends 1983 1983

Also Appears On (34)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Trojan Creole Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Creole Reggae Box Set TJETD 161 CD Trojan 1964-94 2004
Love Of The Common People Various Artists Love Of The Common People CDTRD 448 CD Trojan 1967-79 2000
Solid Gold Various Artists Solid Gold CDHB 80 CD Heartbeat 1971 1992
United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 1&2 DBCDD 105 CD Doctor Bird 1976-77 2022
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits JGML 063 LP Joe Gibbs 1979 1979
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits DBCDD 106 CD Doctor Bird 1979 2022
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 VPCD 4159 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 2 VPCD 4160 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 3 VPCD 4161 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 VPCD 4168 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 VPCD 4169 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
Can't Stop The Dread Various Artists Can't Stop The Dread DBCDD 068 CD Doctor Bird 197X 2021
Joe Gibbs Revive 45's Vol II Various Artists Joe Gibbs Revive 45's Vol II LP Rocky Gibbs 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 CD Rocky One 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 2 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 2 CD Rocky One 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 6 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 6 CD Rocky One 197X
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 7 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 7 CD Rocky One 197X
Tapper Zukie Presents  Proud to Be Black Various Artists Tapper Zukie Presents Proud to Be Black TJCCD 198 CD Trojan 197X 2004
The Park Is Mine Various Artists The Park Is Mine BSICD 55 CD Jackpot 197X 2000
Scorchers From The Mighty Two Various Artists Scorchers From The Mighty Two VPCD 4130 CD VP 197X-8X 2008
Sideshow Barry Biggs Sideshow TJACD 166 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2004
Strictly For Lovers Various Artists Strictly For Lovers IRG 8 LP Island 197X-8X 1985
Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Bob Marley Covers Box Set TJETD 323 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2006
Trojan Lovers Rock Box Set Various Artists Trojan Lovers Rock Box Set TJETD 292 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2005
The Other Reggae Super Stars Various Artists The Other Reggae Super Stars SSLP 0111 LP Sun Set 1980 1980
United Dreadlocks Vol 2 Various Artists United Dreadlocks Vol 2 KJG 011 LP Joe Gibbs 1980 1980
Revue Records Presents Symphonies Of Love Various Artists Revue Records Presents Symphonies Of Love DBCDD 111 CD Doctor Bird 1980-86 2023
Reggae Impact & Someone Loves You Honey Marcia Aitken & June Lodge Reggae Impact & Someone Loves You Honey DBCDD 116 CD Doctor Bird 1981-82 2022
Master Piece Vol 2 Various Artists Master Piece Vol 2 LDLP 011 LP Londisc 1984 1984
A True Sugar Minott A True ARLP 014 LP Arrival 1985 1985
Sound Of Taxi Vol 1 Various Artists Sound Of Taxi Vol 1 LP Taxi 1986 1986
Joe Gibbs Rare Grooves Various Artists Joe Gibbs Rare Grooves CD Rocky One 198X
Lovers Rock Various Artists Lovers Rock TJTCD 603 CD Trojan 198X 2022
Trojan Eighties Box Set Various Artists Trojan Eighties Box Set TJETD 253 CD Trojan 198X 2005
5 albums
102 credits
51 labels
1976 - 2010