Ron Thompson (blues guitarist)

Ron Thompson
Born (1953-07-05) July 5, 1953
Oakland, California, United States
Genres Electric blues, blues rock[1]
Occupation(s) Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Slide guitar, vocals
Years active Early 1970s–present
Labels Blind Pig, various
Website Official website

Ron Thompson (born July 5, 1953) is an American electric blues and blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.[1] Thompson has released seven albums since 1983 on labels including Blind Pig. He has 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".[2] Meanwhile, Mick Fleetwood stated, "Ron Thompson is my favorite guitarist".[3]

Life and career

Thompson was born in Oakland, California, United States, and had mastered basic guitar and slide guitar techniques by his mid-teens.[1] He was educated at Newark Memorial High School, in Newark, California.[2] 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, staying with him for three years. In 1980, Thompson formed his own group, the Resisters, and secured a recording contract with Takoma Records.[1] 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 separately working with Lowell Fulson, Etta James and Big Mama Thornton. Thompson's second album Resister Twister was released in 1987 and nominated for a Grammy Award,[3] plus 1990's Just Like a Devil, was taken from his work on Mark Naftalin's Blue Monday Party radio show.[1]

Thompson's 2007 album, Resonator was a purely acoustic production.[3]

Discography

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
2004 Still Resisting Poore Boy
2007 Resonator 32-20

[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bill Dahl. "Ron Thompson". Allmusic. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Local legend brews the blues by Linda Stone | April 4, 2006". Tri City Voice. 2006-04-04. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ron Thompson - Rhythm and Blues Legend". Rtblues.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Ron Thompson | Discography". AllMusic. 1953-07-05. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
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