Lincoln Thompson

Biography

Prince Lincoln Thompson, known as Sax (10 July 1949 in Jonestown, Kingston, Jamaica – 14 January 1999 in London, England), was a Jamaican singer, musician and songwriter with the reggae band the Royal Rasses, and a member of the Rastafari movement. He was noted for his high falsetto singing voice, very different from his spoken voice.

Career

He began his recording career as a harmony singer along with Cedric Myton of The Congos in 1967, in a band called The Tartans, who then split up in 1969. In 1971 he was taken on by Coxsone Dodd, and recorded three songs with him at Studio One called "Daughters of Zion", "True Experience×True Experience17 December 2001 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Nobody Here but Me4:162Blessed Are the Meek4:513Slave Driver5:444Jah Love5:025Babylon Is Falling4:566True Experience5:117For Once in My Life5:528Walk in Jah Light5:529Jungle Fever7:3010Thanksgiving (While Your Living)4:32Disc 21Interstellar Over Dub4:162Second Sight5:043Nebular Dub4:434Time Wharp4:125Universally Dubbed4:366Terrestrial Dub4:327Gravitational Echoes4:478Dub Vortex3:369Regenerated Dub4:4410Cosmic Silence4:36" and "Live Up to Your Name". In 1974, he recorded the Humanity album with Cedric Myton, Clinton Hall and Keith Peterkin, and set up the God Sent label. He had two hit singles with "Kingston 11" and "Love the Way It Should Be".
In 2010, the song, "Humanity (Love the Way It Should Be)" was covered by the American singer John Legend backed by the Philadelphia band, The Roots, and was featured on Legend's album, Wake Up!.
Prince Lincoln received a record deal in 1978, he was signed up by Mo Claridge, who at the time ran Ballistics Records, a London offshoot of United Artists, and who noticed his "eerie falsetto". A single "Unconventional People" was released as a 12-inch single in March 1979 with the Humanity album following in May. In mid 1979, the Royal Rasses recorded a second Prince Lincoln album, Experience, this time without Cedric Myton. This album contained more than just the traditional drum and bass sound of most reggae. The band renamed themselves the Rasses to avoid confusion with fellow reggae band The Royals to record a further album called Natural Wild×Natural Wild2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Mechanical Devices6:272Natural Wild4:473My Generation6:284Second Sight5:055Spaceship7:086People's Minds5:377People Love Music5:078Smiling Faces5:399Spaceship (12" Version)6:0110Natural Wild (7" Version)2:59Disc 21Mechanical Devices5:222My Generation7:283Spaceship7:474People Love Jah Music5:215Peoples Minds5:466Natural Wild5:16 in 1980. This time the music was recorded in London. Prince Lincoln's decision to invite English rock musician Joe Jackson was controversial, and the album was a commercial flop.
Thompson returned to Jamaica and re-set up the successful God Sent label, with the help of German company Juicy Peeple to produce his fourth album, Ride with the Rasses×Ride With The Rasses1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1One Common NeedA2Kinky Money GameA3Come SpringB1Fall BackB2The Brotherhood Of ManB3Ride With The RassesB4No Future At All in 1982. This music was recorded at Tuff Gong and Channel One studios. Around this time he and his family moved to Tottenham, London, England, where he opened an Ital shop called The Rasses Fish Mart and Grocery Store. In September 1983, he recorded Rootsman Blues in Addis Ababa Studio in London. It was released by Target Records with only three musicians per track, giving the music the intimate quality of chamber music.
He released a final album, 21st Century in 1997 after someone from the United States heard the music in Prince Lincoln's shop, and agreed to become a sponsor. This final album was also recorded in London.
Thompson died in January 1999, in London, at the age of 49.

Singles

"Daughters of Zion" (1971)
"True Experience×True Experience17 December 2001 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Nobody Here but Me4:162Blessed Are the Meek4:513Slave Driver5:444Jah Love5:025Babylon Is Falling4:566True Experience5:117For Once in My Life5:528Walk in Jah Light5:529Jungle Fever7:3010Thanksgiving (While Your Living)4:32Disc 21Interstellar Over Dub4:162Second Sight5:043Nebular Dub4:434Time Wharp4:125Universally Dubbed4:366Terrestrial Dub4:327Gravitational Echoes4:478Dub Vortex3:369Regenerated Dub4:4410Cosmic Silence4:36" (1971)
"Live Up to Your Name" (1971)

Albums

Humanity 1979
Experience 1979 (The lyrics from "Walk in Jah light" and "Thanksgiving" have been used to explain the doctrine of physical immortality at Rastafari movement).
Harder na Rass 1979
Natural Wild 1980
Ride with the Rasses 1982
Rootsman Blues 1983 (also titled Unite The World)
21st Century 1997