Richard Thompson

British songwriter and musician Richard Thompson is one of many artists who adopted the beret. I haven't found out what kind of beret it is, but I suspect it to be a Kangol Monty with the leather rim and the absence of a txortena. Prominently in the middle shows a six pointed (sherif?)-star.

Richard Thompson made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in 1967 and, from 1972, continued on a solo career (later together with his wife, the singer Linda Peters).

Thompson produced a great many albums, received numerous awards, but always stayed true to himself - funding his own recordings in later years and distributing/marketing them through smaller labels.

Thompson played with the greats of all kind (from Gerry Rafferty and Crowded House to Bonnie Raitt) and his songs have been covered by artists such as the Neville Brothers, Emmylou Harris, David Gilmour and The Blind Boys from Alabama).

Thompson beliefs come from the Sufi scriptures (Thompson being a committed Muslim since 1974), but apart from a turban covered album Pour Down Like Silver, this is not obvious from his songs.

Many thanks to Wilson Cotton for the suggestion and the picture of RT at the Cropredy Festival.