Uziah Thompson

Uzziah "Sticky" Thompson (1 August 1936 – 25 August 2014) was a Jamaican percussionist, vocalist and deejay active from the late 1950s. He worked with some of the best known performers of Jamaican music and played on hundreds of albums.

Biography Thompson was born the third of five children in rural Mannings Mountain, Jamaica on 1 August 1936. Due to his family's poverty he was unable to complete his education and moved to Kingston at the age of 15 in search of work. He became a regular session musician in several studios, including playing as a member of Gibbs' house band The Revolutionaries, recording prolifically throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and appearing on recordings by artists including Big Youth, Dennis Brown, The Congos, Culture (including Two Sevens Clash), Peter Tosh, Burning Spear (Dry and Heavy), Yabby You (Beware Dub), The Wailing Souls and Serge Gainsbourg. He performed as part of the live bands of several artists including Jimmy Cliff (playing on the 1976 album In Concert and playing in his Oneness band). In the 1980s, Thompson was a regular member of Black Uhuru, playing on their early 1980s albums Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and Dub Factor. The Tom Tom Club, Gregory Isaacs, and Ziggy Marley throughout the 1980s and 1990s. More recently he recorded with Stephen Marley (the Grammy-winning Mind Control), Sinéad O'Connor, Bruno Blum and Michael Franti.

Thompson remained active in the Jamaican music industry. In the 2000s he moved into production, with his sons Kevin and Alrick

Collaborations

With Dennis Brown Visions of Dennis Brown (Joe Gibbs Music, 1978) Words of Wisdom (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979) Spellbound (Joe Gibbs Music, 1980) Foul Play (A&M Records, 1981) Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Joe Gibbs Music, 1982)

With Jimmy Cliff Brave Warrior (EMI, 1975) Follow My Mind (Reprise Records, 1975) Give Thankx (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) Give the People What They Want (MCA Records, 1981) Special (Columbia Records, 1982) The Power and the Glory (CBS Records, 1983)

With Joe Cocker Sheffield Steel (Island Records, 1982)

With Carlene Davis At the Right Time (Carib Gems, 1980) Paradise (Orange Records, 1984)

With Gwen Guthrie Gwen Guthrie (Island Records, 1982)

With Grace Jones Warm Leatherette (Island Records, 1980) Nightclubbing (Island Records, 1981) Living My Life (Island Records, 1982) Hurricane (PIAS Recordings, 2008)

With Stephen Marley Mind Control (Tuff Gong, 2007) Revelation Pt. 1 – The Root of Life (Universal Records, 2011)

With Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers Play the Game Right (EMI, 1985) One Bright Day (Virgin Records, 1989) Jahmekya (Virgin Records, 1991) Joy and Blues (Virgin Records, 1993) Free Like We Want 2 B (Elektra Records, 1995) Fallen Is Babylon (Elektra Records, 1997) Spirit of Music (Elektra Records, 1999)

With John Martyn Sapphire (Island Records, 1984)

With Willie Nelson Countryman (Lost Highway Records, 2005)

With Sinéad O'Connor Throw Down Your Arms (Chocolate and Vanilla, 2005)

With Barry Reynolds I Scare Myself (Island Records, 1982)

With The Royals Israel Be Wise (Ballstic Records, 1978) Moving On (Kingdom Records, 1981)

With Peter Tosh Equal Rights (EMI, 1977) Bush Doctor (EMI, 1978) Mystic Man (EMI, 1979) Wanted Dread & Alive (Capitol Records, 1981) Mama Africa (EMI, 1983) No Nuclear War (EMI, 1987)

With Betty Wright Wright Back At You (Epic Records, 1983)