Ken Thomas (record producer)
{{Short description|English record producer (died 2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ken Thomas
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| birth_name = Kenneth Vaughan Thomas
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| death_date = July 2021
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| associated_acts = Sigur Rós
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Kenneth Vaughan Thomas (died July 2021) was an English record producer, recording engineer, and mixing engineer.{{Cite web |url=https://www.resolutionmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ken-Thomas.pdf |title=Ken Thomas |author=George Shilling |date=October 2005 |publisher=S2 Publications Ltd. |work=Resolution Magazine |accessdate=29 June 2017 }} As a record producer, he worked with artists such as the Bongos,{{cite book |last=Barone |first=Richard |date=2007 |title=Frontman: Surviving the Rock Star Myth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dSEI4YsawBwC&pg=PA78 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |page=78 |isbn=9780879309121 |access-date=23 March 2018}} Wire, Dave Gahan, Sigur Rós,{{Cite web |url=https://milocostudios.com/admin/uploads/201110261509402112463SIGURROSinSOS.pdf |title=Sigur Ros: Ken Thomas & Jonsi Birgisson: Recording Sigur Ros |author=Mark Pytlik |date=July 2002 |publisher=SOS Publications Group |work=Sound on Sound |accessdate=29 June 2017 }} and M83.{{Cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11406-saturdaysyouth/ |title=M83: Saturdays=Youth |author=Brian Howe |date=15 April 2008 |publisher=Condé Nast |work=Pitchfork |accessdate=1 July 2017 }}
Early career
His career in the music industry began as an assistant and engineer on sessions for groups like Public Image Ltd, the Buzzcocks, Wire, Alien Sex Fiend,{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}, Psychic TV and Rush while working at Trident and Advision studios.{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-farewell-to-kings-mw0000195592/credits |title=A Farewell to Kings - Rush | Credits | AllMusic |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=29 June 2017 }} In 1980, he composed and recorded the album Beat the Light.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Due to his involvement with punk and experimental artists, he went on to work with Icelandic group the Sugarcubes as an engineer on their debut album Life's Too Good.
Sigur Rós
Thomas' relationship with the Sugarcubes later resulted in his work with fellow Icelandic band Sigur Rós after Sugarcubes' guitarist Þór Eldon played him the group's debut album Von. Thomas went on to undertake production, engineering, and mixing duties for the group throughout several albums including Ágætis byrjun, ( ), and Takk...{{cite magazine |author= |title=Reviews: Albums |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=September 17, 2005 |access-date=29 June 2017}} and also assisted in recording the performances for the documentary film Heima.{{Cite web |url=https://milocostudios.com/admin/uploads/201110261520162449718iZotopeArtistInterviewBirgirJnBirgissonSigurRsSundlauginStudio.pdf |title=Biggi |date=2007 |publisher=iZotope, Inc. |accessdate=1 July 2017 }}
Personal life
Ken was the father of fellow record producer Jolyon Vaughan Thomas. The two shared High Bank Studio and collaborated on projects.{{Cite web |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/people/slaves-are-you-satisfied |title=Slaves - Are You Satisfied?: Jolyon Thomas: Producing Are You Satisfied? |author=Paul Tingen |date=August 2015 |publisher=SOS Publications Group |work=Sound on Sound |accessdate=30 June 2017 }}
Ken was also the father of singer-songwriter Amy Odell, who provided vocals on his production of the Gavin Friday album Catholic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music-catholic-by-gavin-friday-26727975.html |title=Music: Catholic by Gavin Friday * * * |author=John Meagher |date=29 April 2011 |publisher=Independent.ie |website=Independent.ie |accessdate=18 March 2018 }}
Thomas was reported to have died in early July 2021 as acknowledged in online statements by Gavin Friday{{Cite web |url=https://gavinfriday.com/2021/07/09/remembering-ken-thomas/ |title=Remembering Ken Thomas |date=9 July 2021 |publisher=Gavin Friday |website=gavinfriday.com |accessdate=1 September 2021}} and Sigur Rós.{{Cite tweet |author=sigur rós |user=sigurros |number=1414666263071166469 |date=12 July 2021 |title=It is with much sadness we say goodbye to our friend, collaborator and producer Ken Thomas who passed away last week. Ken worked with us on AB, ( ), Takk and various other bits of music in our early years. ( |language=English |access-date=1 September 2021 |link=https://twitter.com/sigurros/status/1414666263071166469}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|Ken Thomas}}
- {{IMDb name|id=1901053|name=Ken Thomas}}
- [https://unityaudioltd.wordpress.com/the-rock/users/ken-jolyon-thomas/ Ken & Jolyon Thomas] on Unity Audio Blog
- [https://www.resolutionmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ken-Thomas.pdf Ken Thomas] in Resolution Magazine, October 2005
- [http://www.recordproduction.com/ken-thomas.html Ken Thomas] on RecordProduction.com, October 2005
- [https://milocostudios.com/admin/uploads/201110261509402112463SIGURROSinSOS.pdf Ken Thomas & Jónsi Birgisson: Recording Sigur Rós] in Sound on Sound, July 2002
[https://www.coldwarnightlife.com/2024/04/07/shine-on-ken-thomas/ Shine On: Ken Thomas] on Cold War Night Life
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Category:English record producers
Category:Year of birth missing
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