Ernest Thompson

Ernest Thompson (* 1892 ; † 1961 in High Point , North Carolina ) was an American old-time musician . Thompson was among the first rural musicians to make recordings.

Life

Childhood and youth

Ernest Thompson lived much of his life in Winston-Salem , North Carolina . At the age of 18 he lost his eyesight in an accident at work in a textile factory, so that he had to attend a school for the blind. Although he was taught typical work for the blind, such as tuning the piano, Thompson was far more interested in developing his musical skills. In the next few years he learned a total of 26 instruments and earned his living as a street musician.

Career

In 1924 - the first successful old-time recordings made the record companies look for more artists - Thompson was discovered by Williams Parks of Columbia Records in Winston-Salem and invited to a session. Thompson traveled to New York City with Samantha Bumgardner and Eva Davis, where he recorded his first titles on April 25th and 26th, including Are You from Dixie? , an old Tin Pan Alley song from 1915. Thompson's recording became one of his most famous songs and later inspired other musicians such as the Blue Sky Boys . Are you from Dixie? has become a classic in country music as well as bluegrass .

In September 1924, a second session for Columbia followed, in which Thompson was partially accompanied by guitarist Connie Sides. The most successful records from this and the previous session were Whistlin 'Rufus / When You're All In, Down and Out , Weeping Willow Tree / Sylvester Johnson Lee and Old-Time Religion / I'm Goin Down to Jordon . Thompson's numerous recordings for Columbia included numerous Tin Pan Alley and ragtime pieces that would later become standards. For example, Thompson recorded the first version of Red Wing , a minstrel ballad by Kerry Mills from the 1890s. This song was later recorded by Buell Kazee , Riley Puckett , Doc Williams , George Reneau and many more, among others . Thompsons also released under pseudonyms such as "Ernest Johnson" and "Charlie Jones" on Columbia's sub- labels Harmony Records and Velvet Tone Records . In the UK , some Thompson recordings were released through Regal Records .

The only average sales of his records caused Columbia to remove Thompson from their catalog. For the next few years he made no further recordings and lived in Winston-Salem. In 1930 Thompson tried again in the record business and recorded a total of 14 tracks in Richmond , Indiana , for Gennett Records , of which only Sparrow Bird Waltz; Good Old Summer Time / Are You from Dixie; Swanee River , two medleys, were released.

Late years

But a short time later Thompson withdrew, lived on in obscurity and appeared as a street musician in front of "Brown's Warehouse". In 1931 he married Cora Lee Pistrollious, also a street musician, and moved with her to Baltimore , Maryland . In 1949, the couple once again moved to High Point, North Carolina, where Ernest Thompson died unnoticed in 1961.

Discography

year	title	#	Remarks
Columbia Records
1924	Are you from Dixie? / The Wreck of the Southern Old '97	130-D
1924	Jesse James / Lighting Express	145-D
1924	Little Brown Jug / How Are You Goin 'to Wet Your Whistle?	147-D
1924	Yield Not to Temptation / Life's a Railway to Heaven	158-D
1924	Don't Put a Tax on the Beautiful Girls / Frankie Baker	168-D
1924	Kiss Waltz / Sparrow Bird Waltz	169-D
	Mississippi Sawyer / Climbing Up the Golden Stairs	189-D
	Red Wing / Snow Deer	190-D
	Chicken Roost Behind the Moon / Coon Crap Game	206-D
	The Little Rosebud Casket / In the Baggage Coach Ahead	216-D
	Alexander's Ragtime Band / Mississippi Dippy Dip	15000-D
	Weeping Willow Tree / Sylvester Johnson Lee	15001-D
	At a Georgia Camp Meeting / Silly Bill	15002-D	with Connie Sides
	Whistling Rufus / When You're All In, Down and Out	15006-D
	Old Time Religion / I'm Going Down to Jordan	15007-D
Gennett Records
1930	Sparrow Bird Waltz; Good Old Summer Time / Are You from Dixie; Swanee River	7139	as Ernest E. Thompson
Unpublished titles
1924	Was Town Quick Step Yellow Rose in Texas Soldier's Joy John Henry, Steel Driver Jim Thompson's Old Gray Mule	Columbia
1930	My Little Girl; Goodbye Ma, goodbye Pa Bring Me a Leaf from the Sea Snow Dear; Rainbow Every Little Bit Added to What You Got Sweetheart Dance with Me I will be dancing with you What Is Home Without Babies [no title]	Gennett

Web links

biography
Ernest Thompson on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)

personal data
SURNAME	Thompson, Ernest
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American old-time musician
DATE OF BIRTH	1892
DATE OF DEATH	1961
Place of death	High Point , North Carolina