Michael Thompson (guitarist)

Michael Thompson (guitarist)
Michael Thompson (born Michael Wood Thompson, February 11, 1954 in Port Washington, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.
Thompson is known for his work as a session guitarist during the last 4 decades. He founded the rock group TRW in 2007.
Early years
Michael Thompson grew up in Port Washington, New York and attended Berklee College of Music for two years, studying with Pat Metheny before leaving to tour and record with a local R&B/funk group called The Ellis Hall Group. After four years with the group, Thompson moved to Los Angeles in the hopes of starting a career as a studio musician, almost immediately getting a touring gig with Joe Cocker. Money was tight and to support himself and his wife Gloria, Thompson supplemented gigs playing on songwriters' publishing demos and sporadic session work with a job as a cab driver until landing a year-long world tour with Cher.
Following the tour, Thompson played guitar for the TV series Fame, a gig he would hold for four years, and started his own band, Slang. In 1983, he was invited by Andy Fraser, formerly of Free, to be the guitarist on his album Fine Fine Line, for Island Records (1984).
The Michael Thompson Band
In 1988, Thompson finally landed a record deal for an album of his own, with Geffen Records. The eponymous Michael Thompson Band (also known by its initial logo, MTB), featuring lead vocals by Moon Calhoun, released the album How Long in 1989 and had a Billboard chart hit that year with the single "Can't Miss". The single hit #33 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Other musicians on the album included Toto singer Bobby Kimball and ex-Kansas singer John Elefante on background vocals and John Keane, Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa and Missing Persons) and Pat Torpey (Mr. Big) on drums.
Later work
Thompson played on the eponymous debut album by the commercial fusion act Animal Logic, the brainchild of Police drummer Stewart Copeland and bassist Stanley Clarke. Thompson shared guitar duties with Peter Haycock (Climax Blues Band) and Steve Howe (Yes, Asia, GTR). Clarke and Copeland both went on to successful careers composing film scores for which they continued to tap Thompson for guitar work, and he has also worked on film scores by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard and Randy Edelman.
Just as Thompson's session career was hitting its stride, 1980s studio guitar staple Dann Huff left L.A. for Nashville and put out the word that producers and contractors who wanted him should instead call Michael Thompson. Thanks to the studio engineer Humberto Gatica's suggestion, Thompson began what would become a decade-long hit-laden association with producer/songwriter David Foster, including a number of Celine Dion records, beginning with "The Power of Love". It was during another Dion session for Foster in 1995 that R&B singer/songwriter/producer Babyface heard him through the wall of the studio and invited him to play on the project he was there for, the #1 Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album for Whitney Houston. Babyface, too, would frequently use Thompson throughout the 1990s, including on the huge hit "Change the World" with Eric Clapton and Babyface's own hit single, "Every Time I Close My Eyes". Thompson was in Babyface's live band for the MTV special, album and DVD Babyface: MTV Unplugged NYC 1997.
Quincy Jones invited Thompson to be a guest on his 1995 album Q's Jook Joint. The following year Thompson released his first solo album, The World According to M.T. The album featured compositions by Thompson; a collaboration with Jeff Paris, who had guested on How Long; and a song written by another How Long collaborator, Mark Spiro. A cover of a Sam Cooke song, "A Change is Gonna Come", featuring Bobby Womack on vocals, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.
Thompson's abilities and sensibilities are so trusted that BT magazine noted in its 2001 "Platinum Touch" cover story on Thompson that "These days, many artists and producers just drop their tapes off at Thompson's home studio and let him add whatever he wants. It is a convenient, low-pressure way to work, but Thompson says he still loves to interact with other musicians at the big studios."
In 2001 Thompson was awarded the "Distinguished Alumni" award from his alma mater Berklee College of Music to commemorate his contributions to the music industry. Berklee's program for the event noted that "he is widely regarded as being among the elite studio session players, and his list of credits includes such prominent names as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, 'N Sync, Toni Braxton, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Joe Sample, the Scorpions, Vince Neil, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Thalía, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Madonna, BabyFace, En Vogue, Gloria Estefan, Stanley Clarke, and Ricky Martin."
Robert John "Mutt" Lange worked with Thompson on Shania Twain's album Up! (2003). Here Mutt and Twain flew down to Milano to collaborate, as Thompson was working on recording with an Italian artist at the time. According to Thompson he first played on 7 tracks in Italy, and later Mutt asked him to come to Hawaii to play on most of the remaining tracks as well.
In 2007, Thompson revisited his late-1980s melodic rock heyday with two projects. He recorded three new songs for a remastered re-release of Michael Thompson Band's How Long, released in the summer of that year. He also formed a new band, TRW, with Mark Williamson on vocals and bass and John Robinson on drums. The group released the album Rivers of Paradise (2007).
Discography
Solo
The World According to M.T. (1998)
M.T. Speaks (2005)
Michael Thompson Band
How Long (1989)
How Long (2007, Remastered with 3 Bonus Tracks)
Future Past (2012)
Love & Beyond (2019)
High Times - Live In Italy (2020, Live CD/DVD)
The Love Goes On (2023)
TRW (Thompson, Robinson, Williamson)
Rivers of Paradise (2007)
Selected session discography
Cher (1987) Cher
Till I Loved You (1988) Barbra Streisand
Not Me (1988) Glenn Medeiros
Heart of Stone (1989) Cher
Good to Be Back (1989) Natalie Cole
Bowling in Paris (1989) Stephen Bishop
Somebody Loves You (1989) Paul Anka
The Simpsons Sing the Blues (1990) The Simpsons
Kiss Me with the Wind (1990) Brenda Russell
For My Broken Heart (1991) Reba McEntire
Love Hurts (1991) Cher
Lovescape (1991) Neil Diamond
Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) Michael Bolton
Celine Dion (1992) Céline Dion
Jennifer Rush (1992) Jennifer Rush
Timeless: The Classics (1992) Michael Bolton
Breathless (1992) Kenny G
Start the Car (1992) Jude Cole
The Colour of My Love (1993) Céline Dion
Back to Broadway (1993) Barbra Streisand
The One Thing (1993) Michael Bolton
Soul Talkin''' (1993) Brenda Russell
Have a Little Faith (1994) Joe Cocker
Window (1994) Christopher Cross
Rhythm of Love (1994) Anita Baker
The Christmas Album, Volume II (1994) Neil Diamond
Groove On (1994) Gerald LeVert
Through the Fire (1994) Peabo Bryson
Something To Remember (1995) Madonna
Waiting to Exhale (1995) Various
A Very Fine Love (1995) Dusty Springfield
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) Michael Jackson
Out of My Hands (1995) Jennifer Rush
It's a Mystery (1995) Bob Seger
Falling Into You (1996) Céline Dion
Sweet 19 Blues (1996) Namie Amuro
For You I Will (1996) Monica
Secrets (1996) Toni Braxton
Every Time I Close My Eyes (1996) Babyface
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997) Michael Jackson
Flame (1997) Patti LaBelle
Cowgirl Dreamin (1997) Yumi Matsutoya
Concentration 20 (1997) Namie Amuro
Butterfly (1997) Mariah Carey
Open Road (1997) Gary Barlow
Let's Talk About Love (1997) Céline Dion
Deborah (1997) Debbie Gibson
Flesh and Bone (1997) Richard Marx
Freedom (1997) Sheena Easton
Eden (1998) Sarah Brightman
Greg Bissonette (1998) Greg Bissonette
...Hits (1998) Phil Collins
Bathhouse Betty (1998) Bette Midler
A Body of Work (1998) Paul Anka
Back with a Heart (1998) Olivia Newton-John
Jennifer Paige (1998) Jennifer Paige
Keep the Faith (1998) Faith Evans
These Are Special Times (1998) Céline Dion
Affirmation (1999) Savage Garden
Christina Aguilera (1999) Christina Aguilera
Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 (1999) Michael Bolton
Piece of Paradise (1999) Sky
Short Stories (2000) Miyuki Nakajima
Days in Avalon (2000) Richard Marx
Friends for Schuur (2000) Diane Schuur
You, Too Cool (2001) Eikichi Yazawa
Christmas Memories (2001) Barbra Streisand
Invincible (2001) Michael Jackson
Enchantment (2001) Charlotte Church
Snowflakes (2001) Toni Braxton
Josh Groban (2001) Josh Groban
Up! (2002) Shania Twain
Only a Woman Like You (2002) Michael Bolton
Twisted Angel (2002) LeAnn Rimes
Cry (2002) Faith Hill
A New Day Has Come (2002) Céline Dion
Couldn't Have Said It Better (2003) Meat Loaf
Michael Bublé (2003) Michael Bublé
Closer (2003) Josh Groban
Genius Loves Company (2004) Ray Charles
What a Wonderful World (2004) LeAnn Rimes
Motown Two (2004) Michael McDonald
My Own Best Enemy (2004) Richard Marx
It's Time (2005) Michael Bublé
Classic Moments (2005) Patti LaBelle
A Little Soul in Your Heart (2005) Lulu
Lullaby Singer (2006) Miyuki Nakajima
Givin' It Up (2006) George Benson, Al Jarreau
Awake (2006) Josh Groban
Taking Chances (2007) Céline Dion
East of Angel Town (2007) Peter Cincotti
Family (2007) LeAnn Rimes
Seal (2008) Seal
Emotional Remains (2008) Richard Marx
Soul Speak (2008) Michael McDonald
Christmas (2008) Al Jarreau
Sundown (2008) Richard Marx
Crazy Love (2009) Michael Bublé
One World One Love (2009) Michael Bolton
Primera Fila (2009) Thalía
After Hours (2012) Glenn Frey
Loved Me Back to Life (2013) Céline Dion
A Volte Esagero (2014) Gianluca Grignani
Man on the Rocks (2014) Mike Oldfield
Tracks of My Years (2014) Bryan Adams
Beautiful Goodbye (2014) Richard Marx
Wallflower (2015) Diana Krall
Electropop (2016) Miguel Mateos
Encore un soir (2016) Céline Dion
Love (2018) Michael Bublé
Selected film and TV scores
Fame (1982–1987)
Miami Vice (1989–1990)
Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1991)
Days of Thunder (1990) Hans Zimmer (Additional only)
Melrose Place (1992-1999)
California Dreams (1992-1994)
Animaniacs (1993-1998)
Cool Runnings (1993) Hans Zimmer
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) Stanley Clarke
I'll Do Anything (1994) Hans Zimmer
Renaissance Man (1994) Hans Zimmer
Heat (1995) Elliot Goldenthal
The Rock (1996) Hans Zimmer
The Preacher's Wife (1996) Hans Zimmer
Space Jam (1996) James Newton Howard
Primal Fear (1996) James Newton Howard
Daylight (1996) Randy Edelman
Home Alone 3 (1997) Nick Glennie-Smith
G.I. Jane (1997) Trevor Jones
Chill Factor (1999) Hans Zimmer
Romeo Must Die (2000) Stanley Clarke
Gideon's Crossing (2000) James Newton Howard
Big Trouble (2002) James Newton Howard
Hairspray (2007) Marc Shaiman
References
External links
[ Michael Thompson at AllMusic]
1954 births
Living people
American session musicians
People from Port Washington, New York
Guitarists from New York (state)
Berklee College of Music alumni
20th-century American guitarists
21st-century American guitarists
Geffen Records artists
Frontiers Records artists