Errol Thompson | |
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Birth name | Errol Thompson |
Also known as | ET |
Born | December 29, 1948 |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Died | November 13, 2004 | (aged 55)
Genres | Reggae, ska, dub |
Occupation(s) | Record producer |
Years active | 1960s–1980s |
Associated acts | Joe Gibbs |
Errol Thompson (December 29, 1948 – November 13, 2004), better known as "ET", was a record producer, audio engineer, and one of the first studio engineers to be involved in dub music.
Thompson gained studio experience at Studio One, working alongside Joe Gibbs. He went on to work for Bunny Lee and in the 1970s he worked (along with Niney) as an engineer at Randy's Studio 17, in Kingston, Jamaica. Thompson engineered the first instrumental reggae album, The Undertaker by Derrick Harriott and the Crystallites' released in 1970.
He went on to work with Joe Gibbs from 1975. Gibbs and Thompson were known collectively as the Mighty Two. 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.
Thompson also engineered tracks by Bob Marley, The Abyssinians, Augustus Pablo, Big Youth, 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.