Leslie Thompson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Leslie Anthony Joseph Thompson (October 17, 1901, Kingston, Jamaica
- December 26, 1987, London
) was a Jamaica
n jazz
trumpeter.
Thompson played in the West India Regiment
band and played locally in Kingston movie palaces in the 1920s, then moved to London in 1929. In 1930 he began playing with Spike Hughes
, where he played trumpet, trombone, and double bass until 1932. In 1934-35 he toured Europe with Louis Armstrong
, then formed his own band with the help of Ken Snakehips Johnson
, who himself took over control of this band in 1936. Jiver Hutchinson
was one of his sidemen. In 1936-37 Thompson played with Benny Carter
, and later in the 1930s with Edmundo Ros
. He served in the military during World War II
and was active in dance halls and nightclub
s after the war, but stopped playing music professionally after 1954.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
- December 26, 1987, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was a Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter.
Thompson played in the West India Regiment
West India Regiment
The West India Regiment was an infantry unit of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. The regiment differed from similar forces raised in other parts of the British Empire in that it formed an integral part of the...
band and played locally in Kingston movie palaces in the 1920s, then moved to London in 1929. In 1930 he began playing with Spike Hughes
Spike Hughes
Patrick "Spike" Cairns Hughes was a British jazz musician, composer and music journalist. He was the son of Irish composer, writer and song collector Herbert Hughes...
, where he played trumpet, trombone, and double bass until 1932. In 1934-35 he toured Europe with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, then formed his own band with the help of Ken Snakehips Johnson
Ken Snakehips Johnson
Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson was a jazz band leader and dancer.Born Kenrick Reginald Hymans Johnson, and originally from British Guiana, Johnson's parents sent him to the UK at the age of 15, where he attended Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, before studying medicine at Edinburgh University...
, who himself took over control of this band in 1936. Jiver Hutchinson
Jiver Hutchinson
Leslie George "Jiver" Hutchinson was a Jamaican jazz trumpeter and bandleader.Hutchinson played in the band of Bertie King in Jamaica in the 1930s, then moved to England, where he played with Happy Blake's Cuba Club Band. In 1936 he played in Leslie Thompson's Emperors of Jazz and in 1938 with Ken...
was one of his sidemen. In 1936-37 Thompson played with Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
, and later in the 1930s with Edmundo Ros
Edmundo Ros
Edmundo William Ros OBE was a Trinidadian musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain. He directed a highly popular Latin American orchestra, had an extensive recording career and owned one of London's leading nightclubs.- Life :Ros was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad...
. He served in the military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was active in dance halls and nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s after the war, but stopped playing music professionally after 1954.