Ron Thompson (blues guitarist)
{{Short description|American guitarist and singer (1953ā2020)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ron Thompson
| image = File:RT2004.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|7|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|2|15|1953|7|5|mf=y}}
| death_place = Hayward, California, U.S.
| instrument = Slide guitar, vocals
| genre = Electric blues, blues rock
| occupation = Guitarist, singer, songwriter
| years_active = Early 1970sā2020
| label = Blind Pig, various
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
Ron Thompson (July 5, 1953 – February 15, 2020) was an American electric blues and blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ron-thompson-mn0000295326|title=Ron Thompson |author=Bill Dahl |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=September 16, 2011}} Thompson released nine albums after 1983 on labels including Blind Pig. He worked with Little Joe Blue, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, Etta James and Big Mama Thornton.
Thompson commented on his preferred style, "blues is like a medicine, or religion to me, it'll cleanse your soul". Meanwhile, Mick Fleetwood stated, "Ron Thompson is my favorite guitarist".{{cite web |url=http://www.rtblues.com/ |title=Ron Thompson ā Rhythm and Blues Legend |author= |date= |publisher=Rtblues.com |access-date=September 16, 2011}}
Life and career
Thompson was born in Oakland, California, United States, and had mastered basic guitar and slide guitar techniques by his mid-teens. He was educated at Newark High School, in Newark, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.tricityvoice.com/articledisplay.php?a=4969 |title=Local legend brews the blues by Linda Stone | April 4, 2006 |publisher=Tri City Voice |date=2006-04-04 |access-date=2014-01-28}} In the early 1970s, Thompson played backing to Little Joe Blue, and worked solo and as a sideman in San Francisco Bay Area clubs. He joined John Lee Hooker's backing band in 1975 and stayed with him for three years. In 1980, Thompson formed his own group, the Resistors, and secured a recording contract with Takoma Records. He played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1978, 1979 and 1983.
In 1983, he released his debut album, Treat Her Like Gold. Thompson also found employment where he separately worked with Lowell Fulson, Etta James and Big Mama Thornton. Thompson's second album Resister Twister was released in 1987 and was nominated for a Grammy Award, plus 1990's Just Like a Devil, was taken from his work on Mark Naftalin's Blue Monday Party radio show.
Thompson's 2007 album, Resonator was a purely acoustic production.
Thompson died in Hayward, California on February 15, 2020, at the age of 66, due to complications from diabetes.{{cite web |title=Bay Area blues guitar legend Ron Thompson dies at age 66 |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/19/bay-area-blues-guitar-legend-ron-thompson-dies-at-age-66/ |website=The Mercury News |access-date=20 February 2020 |date=19 February 2020}}
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year || Title || Record label | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Treat Her Like Gold | Takoma |
| 1987 | Resister Twister | Blind Pig |
| 1990 | Just Like a Devil | Winner |
| 1998 | Magic Touch | Poore Boy |
| 2003 | Just Pickin' | Acrobat Music |
| 2004 | Still Resisting | Poore Boy |
| 2007 | Resonator | 32-20 |
| 2015 | Son of Boogie Woogie | Little Village Foundation |
With John Lee Hooker
- The Cream (Tomato, 1978)
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.maderatribune.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=95384 Madera Tribune article (2004)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080601051642/http://www.wirz.de/music/takomfrm.htm Takoma Records discography]
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Category:American blues guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:American blues singers
Category:American male singers
Category:American slide guitarists
Category:American blues rock musicians
Category:Songwriters from California
Category:Electric blues musicians
Category:Musicians from Oakland, California
Category:People from Newark, California
Category:Singers from California
Category:Guitarists from California
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:20th-century American male musicians