Michael Thompson

Michael Wood Thompson (born February 11, 1954 in Port Washington, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.

Thompson is known for his work as a session guitarist during the last 4 decades. He founded the rock group TRW in 2007.

Early years Michael Thompson grew up in Port Washington, New York and attended Berklee College of Music for two years, studying with Pat Metheny before leaving to tour and record with a local R&B/funk group called The Ellis Hall Group. After four years with the group, Thompson moved to Los Angeles in the hopes of starting a career as a studio musician, almost immediately getting a touring gig with Joe Cocker. Money was tight and to support himself and his wife Gloria, Thompson supplemented gigs playing on songwriters' publishing demos and sporadic session work with a job as a cab driver until landing a year-long world tour with Cher. In 1983, he was invited by Andy Fraser, formerly of Free, to be the guitarist on his album Fine Fine Line, for Island Records (1984).

The Michael Thompson Band In 1988, Thompson finally landed a record deal for an album of his own, with Geffen Records. The eponymous Michael Thompson Band (also known by its initial logo, MTB), featuring lead vocals by Moon Calhoun, released the album How Long in 1989 and had a Billboard chart hit that year with the single "Can't Miss". The single hit #33 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Thompson's abilities and sensibilities are so trusted that BT magazine noted in its 2001 "Platinum Touch" cover story on Thompson that "These days, many artists and producers just drop their tapes off at Thompson's home studio and let him add whatever he wants. It is a convenient, low-pressure way to work, but Thompson says he still loves to interact with other musicians at the big studios."

Robert John "Mutt" Lange worked with Thompson on Shania Twain's album Up! (2003). Here Mutt and Twain flew down to Milano to collaborate, as Thompson was working on recording with an Italian artist at the time. According to Thompson he first played on 7 tracks in Italy, and later Mutt asked him to come to Hawaii to play on most of the remaining tracks as well.

In 2007, Thompson revisited his late-1980s melodic rock heyday with two projects. He recorded three new songs for a remastered re-release of Michael Thompson Band's How Long, released in the summer of that year. He also formed a new band, TRW, with Mark Williamson on vocals and bass and John Robinson on drums. The group released the album Rivers of Paradise (2007).

Discography Solo The World According to M.T. (1998) M.T. Speaks (2005) Michael Thompson Band How Long (1989) How Long (2007, Remastered with 3 Bonus Tracks) Future Past (2012) Love & Beyond (2019) High Times - Live In Italy (2020, Live CD/DVD) The Love Goes On (2023) TRW (Thompson, Robinson, Williamson) Rivers of Paradise (2007)

As sideman Cher (1987) Cher Till I Loved You (1988) Barbra Streisand Not Me (1988) Glenn Medeiros Heart of Stone (1989) Cher Good to Be Back (1989) Natalie Cole Bowling in Paris (1989) Stephen Bishop Somebody Loves You (1989) Paul Anka The Simpsons Sing the Blues (1990) The Simpsons Kiss Me with the Wind (1990) Brenda Russell For My Broken Heart (1991) Reba McEntire Love Hurts (1991) Cher Lovescape (1991) Neil Diamond Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) Michael Bolton Celine Dion (1992) Céline Dion Jennifer Rush (1992) Jennifer Rush Timeless: The Classics (1992) Michael Bolton Breathless (1992) Kenny G Start the Car (1992) Jude Cole The Colour of My Love (1993) Céline Dion Back to Broadway (1993) Barbra Streisand The One Thing (1993) Michael Bolton Soul Talkin' (1993) Brenda Russell Have a Little Faith (1994) Joe Cocker Window (1994) Christopher Cross Rhythm of Love (1994) Anita Baker The Christmas Album, Volume II (1994) Neil Diamond Groove On (1994) Gerald LeVert Through the Fire (1994) Peabo Bryson Invisible (1994) La Ley Something To Remember (1995) Madonna Waiting to Exhale (1995) Various A Very Fine Love (1995) Dusty Springfield HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) Michael Jackson Out of My Hands (1995) Jennifer Rush It's a Mystery (1995) Bob Seger Falling Into You (1996) Céline Dion Sweet 19 Blues (1996) Namie Amuro For You I Will (1996) Monica Secrets (1996) Toni Braxton Every Time I Close My Eyes (1996) Babyface Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997) Michael Jackson Flame (1997) Patti LaBelle Cowgirl Dreamin (1997) Yumi Matsutoya Concentration 20 (1997) Namie Amuro Butterfly (1997) Mariah Carey Open Road (1997) Gary Barlow Let's Talk About Love (1997) Céline Dion Deborah (1997) Debbie Gibson Flesh and Bone (1997) Richard Marx Freedom (1997) Sheena Easton Eden (1998) Sarah Brightman Greg Bissonette (1998) Greg Bissonette ...Hits (1998) Phil Collins Bathhouse Betty (1998) Bette Midler A Body of Work (1998) Paul Anka Back with a Heart (1998) Olivia Newton-John Jennifer Paige (1998) Jennifer Paige Keep the Faith (1998) Faith Evans These Are Special Times (1998) Céline Dion Io non so parlar d'amore (1999) Adriano Celentano Affirmation (1999) Savage Garden Christina Aguilera (1999) Christina Aguilera Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 (1999) Michael Bolton Piece of Paradise (1999) Sky Short Stories (2000) Miyuki Nakajima Days in Avalon (2000) Richard Marx Friends for Schuur (2000) Diane Schuur You, Too Cool (2001) Eikichi Yazawa Christmas Memories (2001) Barbra Streisand Invincible (2001) Michael Jackson Enchantment (2001) Charlotte Church Snowflakes (2001) Toni Braxton Josh Groban (2001) Josh Groban Up! (2002) Shania Twain Only a Woman Like You (2002) Michael Bolton Twisted Angel (2002) LeAnn Rimes Cry (2002) Faith Hill A New Day Has Come (2002) Céline Dion Couldn't Have Said It Better (2003) Meat Loaf Michael Bublé (2003) Michael Bublé Closer (2003) Josh Groban Genius Loves Company (2004) Ray Charles What a Wonderful World (2004) LeAnn Rimes Motown Two (2004) Michael McDonald My Own Best Enemy (2004) Richard Marx It's Time (2005) Michael Bublé Classic Moments (2005) Patti LaBelle A Little Soul in Your Heart (2005) Lulu Lullaby Singer (2006) Miyuki Nakajima Givin' It Up (2006) George Benson, Al Jarreau Awake (2006) Josh Groban Taking Chances (2007) Céline Dion East of Angel Town (2007) Peter Cincotti Family (2007) LeAnn Rimes Seal (2008) Seal Emotional Remains (2008) Richard Marx Soul Speak (2008) Michael McDonald Christmas (2008) Al Jarreau Sundown (2008) Richard Marx Crazy Love (2009) Michael Bublé One World One Love (2009) Michael Bolton Primera Fila (2009) Thalía After Hours (2012) Glenn Frey Loved Me Back to Life (2013) Céline Dion A Volte Esagero (2014) Gianluca Grignani Man on the Rocks (2014) Mike Oldfield Tracks of My Years (2014) Bryan Adams Beautiful Goodbye (2014) Richard Marx Wallflower (2015) Diana Krall Electropop (2016) Miguel Mateos Encore un soir (2016) Céline Dion Love (2018) Michael Bublé

Film and TV scores Fame (1982–1987) Miami Vice (1989–1990) Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1991) Days of Thunder (1990) Hans Zimmer (Additional only) Melrose Place (1992-1999) California Dreams (1992-1994) Animaniacs (1993-1998) Cool Runnings (1993) Hans Zimmer What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) Stanley Clarke I'll Do Anything (1994) Hans Zimmer Renaissance Man (1994) Hans Zimmer Heat (1995) Elliot Goldenthal The Rock (1996) Hans Zimmer The Preacher's Wife (1996) Hans Zimmer Space Jam (1996) James Newton Howard Primal Fear (1996) James Newton Howard Daylight (1996) Randy Edelman Home Alone 3 (1997) Nick Glennie-Smith G.I. Jane (1997) Trevor Jones Chill Factor (1999) Hans Zimmer Romeo Must Die (2000) Stanley Clarke Gideon's Crossing (2000) James Newton Howard Big Trouble (2002) James Newton Howard Hairspray (2007) Marc Shaiman