To book The Donald Thompson Band, please contact
 
Donald Thompson
 
DonaldThompsonBand@hotmail.com
or
Postal mail: P.O. Box 1392
Kinston, NC 28503
 
 
 
 
 
As many, many others have over the past fifteen years, you'll find the band to be affordable, reliable, cooperative
- and super entertaining!
 
The band is perfect for your festival - theater concert- fair - club - fund raiser - wedding reception - special event
For any audience who loves and appreciates a great show, upbeat ambiance, a sharp-dressed band - and rousing versions of blues - vintage R&B - and classic rock.
 

Professional references can be provided at your request.
 
We're always happy to hear from you.

















 

The Donald Thompson Band: Repertoire Sample

Matchbox - Recorded by, among others, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, The Silver Wilburys, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis

Kansas City – A universal favorite, and an R&B Grammy Hall of Fame Award winner; recorded by everyone from James Brown, to The Beatles, to Elvis, to the Grateful Dead. North Carolina’s own Wilbert Harrison had the original hit.

Hoochie Coochie Man – The great Muddy Waters made this one famous. Also recorded by the Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jeff Healey.

Lucille – Recorded by artists ranging from rock’sVan Halen to country’s Waylon Jennings. Other artists include The Doors, Paul McCartney, Queen, and Johnny Winter. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Little Richard did the original recording.

Shake, Rattle & Roll – A smash hit in the formative age of rock ‘n’roll by the King of the Blues Shouters, the fabulous Big Joe Turner. Subsequently recorded by Buddy Holly, The Stray Cats, Elvis, Jeff Beck and a ton more. The Donald Thompson Band plays their own kicking version of this classic.

Statesboro Blues – Redone and made famous by The Allman Brothers Band, it’s Blind Willie McTell’s 1928 Piedmont blues number. Also recorded by Taj Mahal, Deep Purple, The Youngbloods and John Mayall. It’s been done in several tempos – but the Donald Thompson Band plays it slow and lights-down-low bluesy.

Dust My Broom – The great Elmore James’ signature blues-rocker. The song is now ensconced in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. It’s been recorded by the likes of ZZ Top, Taj Mahal, Howlin’ Wolf, The Rolling Stones, James Cotton and George Thorogood & The Destroyers to name a few.

Crazy ‘Bout You – An original - flavored with a John Lee Hooker-like boogie shuffle beat. Here’s a hint of the lyrics: “I like the way you walk and strut your stuff. I’ve had some good lovin’, but I ain’t had enough.” Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!

Boney Maronie – Has been covered by over ninety artists, including John Lennon, The Flying Burritio Brothers, and The Who. First recorded by New Orleans singer and pianist Larry Williams. It has even been recorded in French and Spanish!

Sugaree – Recorded by Johnny Winter, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters and others. The Donald Thompson Band does a smoking original rendition of this great song.

Keira Amor – An original. It’s a jazzy instrumental shuffle, written by the band’s guitarist, Chris “Jenx” Jenkins.

Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters’ raucous blues- rocker. Also recorded by Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Widespread Panic, JJ Cale, Grateful Dead, the Zombies, and Canned Heat. You’ve gotta hear the red hot version The Donald Thompson Band performs!

Red House – Jimi Hendrix’s sensational slow blues with which he mesmerized the audience at Woodstock. Also recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Great White, and Buddy Guy. Prince recorded it, too - but as “Purple House”. If the Donald Thompson Band’s version doesn’t grab you – then you ain’t got no handle!

Pride & Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughn’s happy-time boogie-shuffle. ‘Nuff said!

Before You Accuse Me – Creedence Clearwater Revival popularized a great rendition of this seminal blues-rocker. Also recorded by Delbert McClinton, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, and Eric Burdon of the Animals.

Stormy Monday – T-Bone Walker’s jazzy, bluesy masterpiece. Later recorded by The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jethro Tull, Big Joe Turner, and Cream, to name a few.

Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival’s great good-time-feeling swamp rocker. Covered by ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, and the country hit-maker Alabama, among others. The Donald Thompson Band performs a great jump-up-and-boogie extended version.

Jambalaya – Here it is folks, The Donald Thompson Band’s rocked-up version of Hank Williams, Sr.’s Cajun-party-time-on-bayou classic.

Bo Diddley – The Donald Thompson Band’s rocking rendition has the quintessential feel and beat of Bo’s famous groove. Get ready – because it’s show time!!! Featuring a bevy of beautiful ladies, all talented professional maraca players. You’re in for a treat!

Drip Drop – A classic up-tempo doo-wop number. Recorded by The (original) Drifters, Dion and others. If you like to bop with your baby, this one’s for you.

The Thrill is Gone – Great jazzy, bluesy number made famous by BB King and covered by artists ranging from Jerry Garcia to Christina Aguilera.

Crossroads – Recorded by John Mayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton/Cream, Rush, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Spirit, among others. Blues legend Robert Johnson wrote and recorded the original.

Wishie Washie Woman – An original, written by Donald Underwood Thompson. A slow Chicago-style blues that has received NPR airplay.

Mary Had a Little Lamb – Stevie Ray Vaughn’s nursery rhyme rocker.

Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix’s sizzling rocker. Also recorded by John Mayer and Stevie Ray Vaughn, to name two of several.

That’s All Right, Mama – The re-worked blues number that rocketed an unknown Elvis Pressley to unprecedented fame. Many musicologists consider this to be the first rock ‘n’ roll record. Subsequently recorded by artists as diverse as Delbert McClinton, Led Zeppelin, Foghat, Rod Stewart, Foreigner and a host of others. In fact, this rock-a-billy classic is so universally renowned that there are over 180 covers of it. And guess what? The Donald Thompson Band’s version will put your toes tapping and your fingers snapping.

Whang Dang Doodle – A good-time blues standard; recorded originally by the dynamic Koko Taylor, The Queen of Chicago Blues. Recorded subsequently by other artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, The Pointer Sisters, and the Grateful Dead. It was performed at the 2011 Grammy Awards by Cindi Lauper, Maria Muldaur - with Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitars.

The Creeper – Bluesman Little Sonny’s harmonica showpiece instrumental. If you enjoy great harmonica playing, you’ll love this number. The title comes from the slow jive groove of this classic blues harmonica piece.

Memphis– Chuck Berry wrote it, but Johnny Rivers made it famous. Recorded, also, by the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elvis, Roy Orbison and - more recently - by Toby Keith.

Honky Tonk Women – Yep, it’s the Rolling Stones’ number that is now a world-renowned rock standard. Covered by a throng of artists ranging from Kid Rock, to Def Leppard, to Prince.

Bright Lights, Big City – Bluesman Jimmy Reed wrote and recorded it. Covered by The Black Crowes, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart and others. It’s listed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

CC Rider – You’ll find The Donald Thompson Band’s funky, driving, original rendition of this classic blues number to be a pure good-time delight! This venerable blues nugget has been recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ray Charles, The Who, Janis Joplin and a host of others. But the Donald Thompson Band’s version is truly original…played in a hot groove that’ll have you dancing – either in your seat or on your feet!

Nobody Loves Me But My Mother/I Got News For You – The Donald Thompson Band combined these two great BB King and Ray Charles numbers and came out with an entertaining and humorous finale for their performances. To say it truthfully – and simply – audiences love this one! It’s a performance that’ll put a smile on your face – and a performance that you’ll keep as a happy memory of a fun, delightful and entertaining show.

Thanks for looking us over. Hope to see you soon.

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