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Sonny Thompson

American R&B pianist, songwriter and bandleader. Married to [a=Lula Reed]. Born on 22 August, 1916 (or 1923) in Centreville, Mississippi - Died on 11 August, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois. Do NOT confuse with [a=Sylvester Thompson] aka [a=Syl Johnson]. Both are related to the [l=Federal (5)] label. Began recording in 1946, in 1948 he had two #1 R&B hits on the [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/336661-Miracle-2]Miracle[/url] label – "Long Gone (Parts I and II)" and "Late Freight". By the early 1950s he had moved on to [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/47558-King-Records-3]King Records[/url], where he worked in A&R and as a session musician and arranger. At King, he had further R&B Top 10 successes with the singer [a=Lula Reed], who became his wife in 1954. He has numerous songwriting and production credits, and a large number of songs he played on behind, but his early blues and jazz instrumentals and the influence they had on rock’s early course which remained his most lasting legacy.