Bob Thompson

Robert H. "Bob" Thompson (born December 12, 1942) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger based in West Virginia, whose music career has spanned for over 50 years. He is the featured house pianist for West Virginia's Public Broadcasting nationally syndicated show, Mountain Stage, and is the founding member of The Bob Thompson Unit.

Early life Thompson was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York, where as a teenager, he began his music career as the bass singer of a do-wop group called The Chanters.

Music career In 1981, Thompson released his debut album Morning Star, under the Rainbow Records label, followed by his second album 7 In, 7 Out, released in 1984; he then signed with Intima Records, where he released his next three albums, Brother's Keeper (1986), Say What You Want (1988), and Wilderness (1989). Thompson then signed with Ichiban Records, where he released five more albums, Love Dance (1992), followed by The Magic in Your Heart (1993), Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit (1996), Lady First (1997), and Spirit (2003).

Throughout his career, Thompson has played with several musicians such as guitarist Larry Coryell, violinist John Blake Jr., guitarist Kevin Eubanks, and drummer Omar Hakim, His music was also featured in the "Local Forecast" segments on The Weather Channel during the 1980s and 1990s.

Since 1991, Thompson has been the featured house pianist for West Virginia's Public Broadcasting nationally syndicated show, Mountain Stage.

In 2015, Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.