"The push towards excellence is in how your work ethic and determination to learn and grow at your craft. No matter what level of expertise you have." Kirk Guitar Thompson
Biography
My Musical Journey
From: United States
Genre:
R&B, Jazz, Pop
Kirk Guitar Thompson is an American recording artist, singer, songwriter and musician from Washington DC.
Thompson when young grew up in a musical household listening to Jazz and R&B band music on 33 rpm records. My influences from my parents who let me grow as a musician with positive reinforcement (Mother Dolores Thompson was a major in Music at Howard University ,
Howard University is a federally chartered, private, coeducational, nonsectarian,historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States.
Listening to music styles of Miles Davis and the sax of coltrain. It wasn't til my mother took me to see a show at the Howard theater starring James Brown in concert,
James Joseph Brown, Jr. was an American recording artist and musician. One of the founding fathers of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century popular music and dance, he is often referred to as "The Godfather of Soul". Wikipedia
James Brown had a powerful influence that sparked me playing guitar at the early age of 10 years old and my love for R & B music . other primary influences are Jimmy Hendrix and Quincy Jones.
Kirk spent his first years studying Jazz guitar with Icon Bill Harris.
Bill Harris spent at least two decades on the road with rhythm & blues vocal group the Clovers, Bill "Willie" Harris had a thick background in bebop and swing guitar as well as gospel.
Kirk studied Classical guitar Lessons at Sophocles pappa in georgetown wash. DC.,
Sophocles Papas was an internationally renowned classical guitar pedagogue. He began teaching classical guitar in Washington, D.C., in the 1920s, when the lack of published guitar music led him to found the Columbia Music Company, Inc..Wikipedia
Kirk then went on to an Bachelor of arts degree in music at Berklee College of Music.
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Wikipedia
Kirk is the original guitar player and founder of the Blackstone music group of Washington DC in 1970. Then founded the Blackstone music group in city of brotherly love philadelphia in 1975.
Blackstone Group was a R&B/Funk band.
In the early 70's toured three years with department of recreations Showmobile and summer in the parks with the Blackstone Band.
Raymond Gray, DC Recreation Department's Showmobile Musical program was a post 1968 riot program funded by the goverment. that was intended to bring culture to poorer neighborhoods and bring calm stability . These projects gave birth to countless great musicians. With Dr. Gilbert Pryor, Jr., Lincoln Ross(Ambassadors, Showmobile Dept of Recreation.
Blackstone in phily toured the chitlin circuit; one of the band's stop was Atlantic City's Club Harlem
Club Harlem was a nightclub at 32 Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Founded in 1935 by Leroy "Pop" Williams; it was the city's premier club for black jazz performers
Toured 2 years with the Educators Band
Founded by Ricco Richardson recorded "Everybody's Doing Their Thing" his group was a R&B/Funk Genre
Then going on to Opening Shows with the Funkadelics, Bar Kays. Chi lites and Kool and the gang.
Kirk has toured with or on the bill with New birth, kool and the gang, The Isley Brothers, The Manhattans, The Chi Lites, Stylistics, Funkadelics, Bar Kays, Betty Davis,Earth, Wind and fire ,and more. .
volunteered his services for 4 years charity working, Hear Youth Movement of Maryland and support to The ambassadors of jazz one of many jazz groups organized under Dolores Floyd.
Dolores Floyd founded the "Hear Youth Movement of Maryland" a Non profit organization for young talented musicains located in the washington dc area.
Starimage management under Kirk Guitar Thompson and Don Winston manage acts for concerts like The Shades Of Vision.
Starimage is a talent managment service. Tutoring and teaching Artist the fine art of mastering guitar and vocals by , and Become a composers and writers of Musical compositions (R&B, Jazz, Pop, and Country).
Global Records put Kirk Guitar Thompson in charge of music production and director. He produces artist and fine tunes the artist for market.
Global Records Artist Label is an Independent Record label which specializes in quality R&B, Jazz, Urban Contemporary and Christian/Gospel music.
Kirk Guitar Thompson is a Member of The Recording Academy . His albums You Got That Feelin, The Jazz Mix and Sweething were all entries in the Grammys.
2010 Grammys consideration for best R & B Album "You Got That Feelin" and Best contemporary Jazz album "The Jazz Mix". The new Sweet Love song under Grammys consideration for best traditional R & B Performance in 2018 60th Grammys.
The Recording Academy is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other recording professionals
The Recording Academy, known variously as The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals ... Wikipedia
Kirk was born and grow up in The R & B Zone. that part of time when live music and live entertainment ruled. When blues,gospel and jazz joined hands and created Rhythm and Blues. His music reflects that deep emotion and feeling that's missed in today's music. Producing a blend of instruments needed to create The R & B Zone sound. His music reflects that deep emotion and feeling that's missed in today's music. The rhythm and lead guitar are lost in today's R & B music. The Guitar is the lost ingredient. Just Imagine Rock music with out any guitar, or James Brown with out Guitar or horns. Rhythm and blues was created on the back bone of guitars,horns and organ. R & B is A true made in american music. Kirk is Star Image top Music Producer, he has been writing, arranging and composing for over 30 years for a string of artist.
To his credit he has written, composed, produced and performed 8 albums: Discography
1. Just Rhythm and Blues
2. You Got That Feelin
3. The Jazz Mix
4. Sensual Lover
5. Peelin Back To The Funk
6. Sweething
7. The Best Of Kirk Guitar Thompson
8. Good Stuff
My Musical Mentors are Quincy Jones and James Brown.
"A good song can take months to create and only minutes to hear.
But it's those few minutes that drive our emotions and make us feel good"
All music is created to be enjoyed by the listener.
Enjoy! Kirk Thompson Producer of Kirk Guitar Thompson and Kirk's The R & B Zone
