Jah Thomas ‘step it inna Clarks’
ANYONE familiar with Jah Thomas knows about his undying love for Clarks, the English shoe that has been popular with Jamaicans since the 1950s. No surprise then that his latest album, Clarks A Clarks, pays homage to the “rude bwoy” footwear.
Clarks A Clarks was released January 13 by Tad’s International Record Ltd. It contains 11 songs, all produced by the veteran deejay.
“Me is a original Clarks man. Mi used to carry Clarks come a Jamaica an’ sell fi $40 a pair — [yuh] si how long dat?” he asked during a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer.
Jah Thomas goes solo on the title track but there are collaborations with some of his contemporaries including Peter Metro on Get inna mi Car, and Josey Wales on
Di Devil Control Dem.
He also shares the mic with his son Da’ville on
Party Time and with Junior Moore of The Tamlins with whom he does two songs.
From the Maxfield Avenue area of Kingston, Nkrumah Thomas (his given name) hung out at dances during the 1960s and early 1970s. Initially he was into vocalists and was a big fan of harmony groups like The Heptones, but after hearing the much-older toaster U Roy and Dillinger, who was a couple years his senior, he became a deejay.
His first released song was 1976’s Midnight Rock, produced by Alvin “GG” Ranglin. Three years later Jah Thomas broke through with the self-produced song Shoulder Move, an anthem that sparked a dance craze of the same name.
The chatty artiste estimates he has produced over 40 albums by artistes such as Sugar Minott, Little John, Barry Brown and Super Cat for his Midnight Rock label. He is eyeing a particular market for Clarks A Clarks.
“Mi perform all over England but never in (mainland) Europe. Wi want it reach di world but we’d a love [to] touch Europe especially,” he said.