Eddie Thornton obituary

January 1, 2026

TL;DR

Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton was a Jamaican-born trumpeter who died at 94.
He played with Georgie Fame's Blue Flames, contributing to their hit 'Getaway'.
Thornton's trumpet featured on the Beatles' 'Got to Get You into My Life'.
He collaborated with artists including the Animals, Sandie Shaw, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones.
Inspired by his longing for Jamaica, the Small Faces wrote 'Eddie's Dreaming' about him.
He became a significant figure in the British reggae scene, notably with Aswad.
Thornton was educated at the Alpha boys' school in Kingston, Jamaica, a place that trained many musicians.
He moved to London in 1954 and joined the Caribbean Swing Band.
He broadened his musical scope in the mid-1970s, touring with Boney M and becoming a top reggae session player.
Thornton was part of the house band for producer Dennis Bovell and played on albums by various reggae artists.
In the 1990s, he co-founded Jazz Jamaica and later joined Ska Cubano.
He also played sessions for artists like Super Furry Animals, Amy Winehouse, and Lily Allen.
Thornton led a weekly music session at the Effra pub in Brixton for many years.
He is survived by his second wife, May, and seven children from his marriages.

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