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Richard John ThompsonBritish musician and composer, guitarist and record producer
Date of Birth: 03.04.1949
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Richard John Thompson - Biography
- Fairport Convention and Solo Career
- Musical Career and Personal Life
Richard John Thompson - Biography
Early Life and Career BeginningsRichard John Thompson was born on April 3, 1949, in Notting Hill, London. His father, a Scot, was a detective at Scotland Yard and enjoyed playing the guitar. Several other family members were also involved in music professionally. Thompson attended William Ellis School in Highgate and formed his first band, "Emil and the Detectives," during his school years. The band's bassist was Hugh Cornwell, Thompson's classmate, who later became the lead vocalist and guitarist of "The Stranglers." Despite his love for rock and roll, Thompson was influenced by his father's collection of jazz and traditional Scottish music, which enriched his musical style in later years. He could imitate almost any style but had a distinctive sound of his own.
Fairport Convention and Solo Career
Thompson made his debut as a musician in September 1967, joining the British folk-rock group "Fairport Convention." His exceptional guitar skills caught the attention of American producer Joe Boyd, who took the young band under his wing and helped them secure their first record deal. As Fairport Convention's sound evolved, Thompson continued to improve both as a guitarist and songwriter. In January 1971, he announced his departure from the band. His first solo album, "Henry the Human Fly," was released in April 1972, followed by his second album, "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight," recorded with his wife Linda Peters in May 1973.
Musical Career and Personal Life
Throughout his career, Thompson has continued to create and record new material, performing live concerts in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia. He is widely regarded as one of the world's best guitarists, and his playing technique is highly esteemed. In 1991, he received the Orville H. Gibson Award for Best Acoustic Guitarist. Thompson's songs have earned him the Ivor Novello Award and the BBC Radio Lifetime Achievement Award. Many artists, including Robert Plant, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, David Gilmour, and Elvis Costello, have recorded his compositions.
Thompson's personal life has also had its ups and downs. He converted to Islam and joined a sufi community in eastern England with Linda in the mid-1970s. However, they returned to music in 1977, and Thompson eventually separated from Linda in December 1981. He settled in California and signed contracts with PolyGram and later Capitol Records. Since then, Thompson has embarked on numerous solo projects and collaborated with various musicians. His most recent solo album, "Dream Attic," was released in 2010.
In June 2010, after 30 years apart, Richard and Linda Thompson performed together at the Meltdown Festival. Thompson's contributions to music were recognized in 2011 when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Aberdeen. Despite the challenges and changes he has faced throughout his career, Richard Thompson's talent and contributions to the music industry have solidified his reputation as a legendary musician and composer.
