Robert H. "Bob" Thompson (born December 12, 1942) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger based in West Virginia, whose music career has spanned for over 50 years.[1][2][3]
Bob Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert H. Thompson |
| Born | December 12, 1942 Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
Biography
editEarly life
editThompson was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York, where as a teenager, he began his music career as the bass singer of a do-wop group called The Chanters.[1] He later on moved to Charleston, West Virginia in the mid-1960s to attend West Virginia State College, where he first played the trumpet, but later on switched to the piano in order to join a jazz band.[4][1] After switching to piano, Thompson played with several jazz bands such as The Modern Jazz Interpreters, and Joi.[5]
Music career
editIn 1981, Thompson released his debut album Morning Star, under the Rainbow Records label;[6] he would release nine more albums under Rainbow Records, Intima Records and Ichiban Records. Thompson has played with several musicians throughout his career, such as guitarist Larry Coryell, violinist John Blake Jr., guitarist Kevin Eubanks, and drummer Omar Hakim.[1] His music has also been featured in the "Local Forecast" segments on The Weather Channel.[7]
Since 1991, Thompson has been the featured house pianist for West Virginia's Public Broadcasting nationally syndicated show, Mountain Stage.[1][3][5] In addition, he is the founder and member of the jazz fusion band, The Bob Thompson Unit.[8]
In 2015, Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.[1][3][5]
Discography
edit- 1981: Morning Star (Rainbow Records)
- 1984: 7 In, 7 Out (Rainbow Records)
- 1986: Brother's Keeper (Intima Records)
- 1988: Say What You Want (Intima Records)
- 1989: Wilderness (Intima Records)
- 1992: Love Dance (Ichiban Records)
- 1993: The Magic in Your Heart (Ichiban Records)
- 1996: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit (Ichiban International)
- 1997: Lady First (Ichiban International)
- 2003: Spirit (Ichiban Records)
Discography Citation:[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Macko, Rob (8 February 2022). "Honoring Black History: Bob Thompson". WOWK 13 News. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ Keller, Michael W. (11 December 2022). "This Week in West Virginia History". The Register-Herald. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Bob Thompson". Colortones.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Bob Thompson". International Musician. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Bob Thompson". West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Morning Star - Bob Thompson". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Search Results". TWC Classics. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "The Bob Thompson Unit on Mountain Stage". NPR. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Bob Thompson Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 March 2024.