About Dickie Thompson
Lived 1917 – 2007 (aged 89). Dickie Thompson was an American jazz guitarist.
James Edward "Dickie" Thompson (December 13, 1917 – February 22, 2007) was an American jazz and R&B guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Biography Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he took up the guitar in his teens, playing it left-handed and upside down and pioneering a technique of string bending. By the 1940s, he was well known for his performances in New York City jazz clubs, and started playing as a session musician.
He began recording under his own name in the early 1950s. In early 1954, he wrote and recorded his song "Thirteen Women and One Man", released on Herald Records, and featuring guitarist Mickey Baker. As a result, Thompson continued to receive royalty payments for the rest of his life.
Thompson later toured with R&B singer Jackie Wilson, and recorded with Hammond organist Wild Bill Davis and saxophonist Johnny Hodges. In the 1970s he moved to Hawaii, where he performed with Don Ho. He moved to Tucson, Arizona in the 1990s, and continued to perform in clubs.
He died in Tucson in 2007, aged 89.
Discography With Wild Bill Davis Free, Frantic and Funky (RCA Victor, 1965) Con-Soul and Sax (RCA Victor, 1965) Live at Count Basie's (RCA Victor, 1966) Wild Bill Davis & Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City (RCA Victor, 1967) Midnight to Dawn (RCA Victor, 1967) Doin' His Thing (RCA Victor, 1969)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Dickie Thompson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dickie Thompson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dickie Thompson?
musical artist
When was Dickie Thompson born?
Dickie Thompson was born on 13 December 1917 in Jersey City.
When did Dickie Thompson die?
Dickie Thompson died on 22 February 2007 in Tucson.
What was Dickie Thompson's occupation?
Dickie Thompson was a jazz guitarist.
What nationality was Dickie Thompson?
Dickie Thompson was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dickie Thompson. https://biography.guide/dickie-thompson/
MLA: "Dickie Thompson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dickie-thompson/.
Chicago: "Dickie Thompson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dickie-thompson/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:26 UTC