Donald Underwood Thompson 'The Prophet'
Donald Underwood Thompson is known for his bluesy vocals and lively performances. His colorful stage attire harkens back to the 'cool threads' worn by the classic blues and rhythm & blues artists. He is a singer of blues, vintage rhythm & blues and classic rock. He has performed for festivals, colleges, television audiences, libraries and arts council events. He has shared venues with artists such as four-time Grammy winner David Holt and the popular folk-fusion group Molasses Creek. He has also performed with guitarist Lou Castro, singer Katy Mitchell, mandolinist Marcy Brenner and multi-instrumentalist/singer Bob Zentz – all of whom appeared in the recent Warner Brothers film adaptation of Nicolas Sparks’ novel, Night in Rodanthe. His all-acoustic CD, Donald Underwood Thompson: The Ocracoke Sessions, was released on Soundside Records in July, 2007, and features several self-penned songs. Also, Donald is the author of Charlie and the Fightin' Mule: Plus More Down-Home Stories, a short story collection set in rural eastern North Carolina . His work-in-progress is an historical novel of the Tuscarora War (1711-1713).
A Little History:
Donald began playing in working bands in the early '60s as an electric bass player and singer. During the '60s, '70s and early '80s he played and sang with such regional favorites as The Echoes, The Heartbeats, and Pride & Joy. Primarily, these bands played the pop/rock hits of the day, sprinkling in country, rhythm & blues, and blues tunes. The blues and rhythm & blues have always been Donald's favorites, so he sang lead on many blues-flavored songs while working in these bands. When he left the band scene in the early '80s, he put aside the electric bass for the acoustic six-string guitar, which he'd begun playing during his teen years. In 1999 he began to perform solo, singing and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. His repertoire consisted of blues, rhythm & blues, folk songs and blue yodels. In 2007, Donald asked Jackie 'Sonny Boy' Holland to come on board as his accompanist, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. This duo evolved into his present band, adding hand-picked members along the way.
Performance after performance, The Donald Thompson Band continues to play its rousing versions of blues, rhythm & blues and classic rock, entertaining and delighting enthusiastic audiences wherever they go.
A Little History:
Donald began playing in working bands in the early '60s as an electric bass player and singer. During the '60s, '70s and early '80s he played and sang with such regional favorites as The Echoes, The Heartbeats, and Pride & Joy. Primarily, these bands played the pop/rock hits of the day, sprinkling in country, rhythm & blues, and blues tunes. The blues and rhythm & blues have always been Donald's favorites, so he sang lead on many blues-flavored songs while working in these bands. When he left the band scene in the early '80s, he put aside the electric bass for the acoustic six-string guitar, which he'd begun playing during his teen years. In 1999 he began to perform solo, singing and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. His repertoire consisted of blues, rhythm & blues, folk songs and blue yodels. In 2007, Donald asked Jackie 'Sonny Boy' Holland to come on board as his accompanist, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. This duo evolved into his present band, adding hand-picked members along the way.
Performance after performance, The Donald Thompson Band continues to play its rousing versions of blues, rhythm & blues and classic rock, entertaining and delighting enthusiastic audiences wherever they go.
