Music
Press
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Discography
Original Albums:
Coat of many Colors - The Mighty Penguins 1994
Tangerine Sky - Billy Thompson 1998
Area 51 - Billy Thompson 2005
Other Recordings:
"This World", co-written with Mighty Penguins keyboardist / arranger Bruce Donnelly. Recorded by former Fleetwood Mac / Savoy Brown producer Mike Vernon for the Atlantic / Code Blue album
"Here And Now" performed by Sherman Robertson.
Original Music In Film:
"Out Of The Black" 2001. Directed by Karl Kozak.
"Making Contact" 1999. Directed by Molly Smith.
Photos
Bio
Whether working on his own or backing such accomplished musicians as Art Neville of the Neville Brothers, blues icons, Little Milton, Albert and Earl King or even Broadway’s Leslie Uggams, singer-songwiter-guitarist Billy Thompson has earned consistent public and critical acclaim since 1987.
Thompson’s music bristles with the infectious, syncopated sounds of New Orleans, the electricity of great rock ‘n’ roll, the punchy verve of Memphis soul and the heartfelt power of blues, funk and jazz.
By turns punchy and poignant, earthy and elegant, his vivid songwriting draws from a rich stylistic well to create classic American music that is steeped in tradition yet unmistakably vital and contemporary.
His tasty, melting pot style is is highlighted on his 1991 debut album, “Coat of Many Colors,” “Tangerine Sky” in 1998 and his latest recording, “Area 51.”
Whether performing original material or covering music everyone has heard, Billy’s impassioned vocals, virtuostic guitar work and artistic vision never fail to deliver. He has performed on ABC TV’s ” The View” with Barbara Walters, with The San Diego Symphony, Qualcomm’s Super Fest for the 2002 Super Bowl, numerous appearances at The San Diego Street Scene, the Grand opening of the House of Blues Los Angeles in 1993 and recorded the musical soundtrack to Thunder Knocking On The Door with platinum recording artist Keb Mo. BT was also the Washington DC representative for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. February 2009
Born: Fayetteville, NC
Home: Virginia Beach, VA
Major Influences: Albert King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Duane Allman, Lowell George, Sonny Landreth
Has Performed Live With: Little Milton, Albert King, Art Neville, Earl King, Larry "Arkansas" Davis, Elvin Bishop, Chuck Berry, Sir Harry Bowens (Was Not Was, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett), Billy Branch, Leslie Uggams, Marva Hicks (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson), Ivan Neville, Daryl Johnson (Daniel Lanois, Boz Scaggs, The Neville Brothers, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris).
Has Supported Shows Featuring: B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Boz Scaggs, The Neville Brothers, Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal, John Hammond Jr., Bobby Womack, Robben Ford, Junior Walker and the Allstars, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Albert Lee, Joe Louis Walker, Anson Funderburg, Raful Neal, Kenny Neal, Jimmie Vaughan, Gallactic, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Lucky Peterson, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Debbie Davies, Angela Strehli, Cocoa Montoya, The Belairs, and many more.
Theater Performance: 2008-2009 - Guitarist for Queen Esther Marrow & the Harlem Gospel Singers European "Brand New Day" Tour. 2004 - Guitarist / Songwriter / Musical Supervisor for a new Keith Glover play entitled the Rose of Corazon. 2002 - Lead guitarist for Tony Award winning playwright Keith Glover's critically acclaimed "Bluesical", "Thunder Knocking On The Door" featuring original music by Keb Mo and Anderson Edwards. 2001 - Lead guitarist for the Broadway musical "It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues" directed by Randal Mylar (Love Janis). Musical direction: Dan Wheatman. Associate musical direction: Jim Ehinger. Written by: Dan Wheatman, "Mississippi" Charles Bevel, and Ron Taylor.
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