View source for Errol Thompson (sound engineer)

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Errol Thompson
| background          = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name          = Errol Thompson
| alias               = ET
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1948|12|29}}
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2004|11|13|1948|12|29}}
| death_place         =
| origin              = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]]
| genre               = [[Reggae]], [[ska]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation          = [[Record producer]]
| years_active        = 1960s&ndash;1980s
| label               = 
| associated_acts     = [[Joe Gibbs (record producer)|Joe Gibbs]]
| website             = 
}}
'''Errol Thompson''' (29 December 1948 – 13 November 2004), better known as "'''ET'''", was a Jamaican [[record producer]], [[audio engineering|audio engineer]], and one of the first [[recording studio|studio]] engineers to be involved in [[dub music]].

==Career==
Thompson gained studio experience at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]], working alongside Joe Gibbs.<ref name="Thompson">Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, p. 314-315, 318</ref> He went on to work for [[Bunny Lee]] and in the 1970s he worked (along with [[Niney the Observer|Niney]]) as an engineer at Randy's Studio 17, in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]]. Thompson engineered the first instrumental reggae album, ''The Undertaker'' by [[Derrick Harriott]]  And The {{not a typo|Crystalites}}, released in 1970.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/reggae_775 |title=Reggae Overview |accessdate=2008-03-21 |last=Porter |first=Christopher |work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] World Music |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328090212/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/reggae_775 |archivedate=2008-03-28 }}</ref>

He went on to work with [[Joe Gibbs (record producer)|Joe Gibbs]] from 1975.<ref name="Thompson" /> Gibbs and Thompson were known collectively as the Mighty Two.<ref name="Thompson" /> Together they produced music by [[Junior Byles]], [[Dennis Brown]], [[Gregory Isaacs]], [[Althea and Donna]], [[Prince Far I]] and [[Eek-A-Mouse]], before their partnership ended in 1983 when Gibbs relocated to Miami.<ref name="Thompson" />

Thompson also engineered [[song|tracks]] by [[Bob Marley]], [[The Abyssinians]], [[Augustus Pablo]], [[Big Youth]], [[Culture (band)|Culture]], [[Yellowman]], [[Frankie Paul]] and [[Burning Spear]].  In addition, he produced work by [[I-Roy]], [[Cornell Campbell]], [[Freddie McGregor]], and [[Barrington Levy]]. Thompson also worked with producer, [[Clive Chin]]. His final project, the "Hard Times Riddim", co-produced with Stephen Gibson, son of partner Joe Gibbs, was instrumental in creating a resurgence in [[dancehall]]. The album included many key reggae performers of the time including, [[Capleton]], [[I Wayne]],  [[Richie Spice]], [[Chuck Fenda]], and [[Luciano (singer)|Luciano]].

Later in life, he moved away from the [[music industry]] and managed a [[supermarket]] in North Parade, downtown Kingston.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Katz |authorlink=David Katz (author) |title=Obituary: Errol Thompson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/dec/09/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1 |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=2004-12-09 |accessdate=2008-03-20 }}</ref> Thompson died, after numerous [[stroke]]s, on 13 November 2004, at the age of 55.

==Discography==
;Albums

===With King Tubby===
*''King Tubby / Errol Thompson - The Black Foundation In Dub'' (2000, Heartbeat Records)
;Singles & EPs
*Jamaican Born & Bred / Version (7") (1971, Ashanti)
*Prince Far I / Errol Thompson - Same Knife / Different Dagger (7") (1999, Crazy Joe)
*The Stones, Errol Thompson & The Mighty Artons - Penetrate (7")
*Linval Thompson / Scientist & Errol Thompson - Touch Up The Key (7")
*Johnnie Clarke / Errol Thompson, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Take Heed / Look Out (7")
* The Echoes / Joe Gibbs, Errol Thompson & The Professionals - Problems In Being A Dread / Dread Problems (7")
*Errol Thompson / J Gibson & Clint Eastwood / Bigger T - Production Plan / Million Dollar Plan (7")
*Kojack & Miss Glitter / Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson - I Can't Stop Loving You / Loving You (7")
;Contributing artist
* ''[[The Rough Guide to Dub]]'' (2005, [[World Music Network]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/errolthompson/errolthompson.htm Reggae Vibes mini biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701231402/http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/errolthompson/errolthompson.htm |date=1 July 2008 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081221081816/http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/221 Listing of Thompson's engineering and production] at Roots Archives
*[https://www.discogs.com/artist/199912-Errol-Thompson Discography at Discogs]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Errol}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Jamaican record producers]]
[[Category:Jamaican audio engineers]]


{{reggae-musician-stub}}
{{music-producer-stub}}