Sonny Thompson (probably August 23, 1916 – August 11, 1989), born Alfonso Thompson or Hezzie Tompson, was an American R&B bandleader and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

Biography

There is some uncertainty over Thompson's origins, as well as his birth name. Researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc indicate that he was born in 1916 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, but other sources state that he was born in 1923, either in Mississippi or in Chicago. He began recording in 1946, and in 1948 achieved two number one R&B chart hits on the Miracle label – "Long Gone (Parts I and II)" and "Late Freight", both featuring saxophonist Eddie Chamblee. "Long Gone", sold in excess of one million copies. The follow-ups "Blue Dreams" and "Still Gone" also reached the R&B chart. By 1952 he had moved on to King Records, where he worked in A&R and as a session musician and arranger. At King, he had further R&B Top 10 successes with the singer Lula Reed, the biggest hit being "I'll Drown in My Tears". Thompson married Reed sometime in the early 1950s. He continued to work as a session musician, and to perform with Reed into the early 1960s. He also had success as a songwriter, often co-writing with blues guitarist, Freddie King. Thompson died in 1989 in Chicago. The Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for Sonny Thompson at Homewood Memorial Gardens in Homewood, IL in October 2024

Discography

Original 10" shellac (78rpm) and 7" vinyl (45rpm) releases

MIRACLE releases: OLD SWING MASTER (or simply 'MASTER') release: KING releases: CHART releases:

Original 7" vinyl EP releases

Original 12" vinyl LP releases

As sideman

With Howlin' Wolf