Cutty Ranks

Philip Thomas (born 12 February 1965), better known as Cutty Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.

Early life, family and education

Thomas was born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, in 1965.

As a youth, he was already performing reggae.

Career

Thomas began performing reggae at age eleven with local sound systems. At age 14, he was working with the Gemini sound system before moving on to work with Tony Rebel's Rebel Tone and Papa Roots. Later, he worked with Stereo Mars, Arrows and Metro Media. He joined Killamanjaro where he worked alongside Early B, Super Cat, Puddy Roots, and Little Twitch, and then Sturmars, where he worked with Josey Wales, Nicodemus, Super Cat, U Brown and Yami Bolo. His first job on leaving school was as a butcher.

During the 1980s, Ranks moved on to the Arrows sound system and his 1986 debut single "Gunman Lyrics" was recorded for Winston Riley's Techniques label. He also recorded such tracks as "Out of Hand" and "Fishman Lyrics" with Riley and after spending some time in Miami working with Super Cat and Nicodemus, he worked with Patrick Roberts' Shocking Vibes label, releasing the single "The Bomber". In 1990, he joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse...

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