Featured Artist:
Michael Thompson, Guitar
(no audio samples currently available
for this artist)
After studying at Berklee and touring
with a popular local R&B band called The Ellis Hall
Group, guitarist Michael Tomposon got a gig touring with
Joe Cocker followed by a year-long world tour with Cher.
After that, Michael did a band with Andy Fraser (formerly
of The Free) and they recorded the album Fine Fine Line
for Island Records.
By then, Michael had been honing his
craft playing on many songwriters publishing demos and
doing any sessions that were offered. Among those gigs,
Michael played for four years on the popular T.V. show
Fame and on Miami Vice for its last season.
In 1988, after working to try and get
a record deal with his band Slang for several years, he
finally got a record deal with Geffen Records and recorded
one album entitled How Long under the name Michael Thompson
Band (MTB). The singer for this group was Moon Calhoun,
who has been a long time friend of Michaels. Also in 1988,
Michael got to do an album with the band Animal Logic
with Stewart Copeland, Stanley Clarke, and Debbie Holland.
This was an important gig for M.T. because it led to working
on many movie scores with both Stewart and Stanley as
composers. While with Animal Logic, Michael got to tour
Europe while having the thrill of playing live on stage
with two of his musical heroes. He had always been a fan
of Stanley Clarke & The Police were always one of
his favorite bands.
In 1989, Michael got his first opportunity
to work with all-star producer, David Foster. This led
to Michael playing on many of DavidÕs hit productions
over the next fifteen years.
In the mid-90's, Michael also started
working with producer/R&B singer, Babyface, and got
a chance to play on many big hits with him as well. These
hits include "Change the World" by Eric Clapton,
"Every Time I Close My Eyes", and the Waiting
to Exhale soundtrack. Michael was also part of Babyface's
live band for his Live In NYC DVD.
In 1995 Michael got a chance to work
with Quincy Jones on his "Qs Juke Joint" album,
in which Quincy made Michael a "special" guest
artist. In 1996, Michael released his first solo album,
The World According to M.T.
In 2001, Michael received a call from
producer Mutt Lange to work on his wife, Shania Twain's,
new album "Up!". Michael had long admired Mutt
as one of his favorite producers and it was a huge thrill
to be asked to contribute to that project.
Also in 2001, Michael received the "Distinguished
Alumni" award from The Berklee College of Music commemorating
his contributions to the music industry. That year, Berklee
Today, the schools magazine, featured a cover story on
Michael entitled Platinum Touch.
Michael has been working on his album MT Speaks for four
years and in October 2005 will release the long-awaited
follow-up to The World According to M.T. The all-instrumental
album features artists such as Stanley Clarke, Vinny Coliauta,
Nathan East, and newcomers Nathanial Morton (drums) and
Sean Halley (bass).
Besides his wife, Gloria, MichaelÕs family includes
daughter, Sahara and sons Zach, Jason and Gordon. They
have lived in Culver City for 17 years.
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