Thompson, Tony (15th
November 1954-12th November 2003)
He was a drummer born to an Antiguan father and a
Trinidadian mother who first performed with the group Labelle in the 1970s
followed by Ecstasy Passion & Pain.From 1976 he was an original member of the successful
group Chic and stayed with them until their disbandment in 1983 and
following that he remained a session drummer with the group's founders Nile
Rodgers and Bernard Edwards who had become sought after and busy
producers.In this capacity he
has been heard performing on countless recordings by artists such as David
Bowie, Duran Duran, Debbie Harry, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Robert Palmer, Rod
Stewart and Jody Watley.He
was also an original member of the group Power Station with Robert Palmer
and Johnny and Andy Taylor and leant his own unique style to their
recordings and concert performances.In 1986 he was asked by Led Zeppelin to join them
in 1986 for a re-union after he had played with them and Phil Collins at
Live Aid but this would be abandoned because he was involved in a car
accident that prevented him performing for a while.He did, however, manage to work
again and became a member of the groups Crown of Thorns and The Distance as
well as re-unite with Power Station for their 1996 reunion album and tour.
Appearing on many chart hit singles he features on "Like a Virgin" by
Madonna, "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Good Times" and "Le Freak" by Chic, "Get
It On" and "Some Like It Hot" by Power Station, "I'm Coming Out" and
"Upside Down" by Diana Ross, "Let's Dance" by David Bowie and "He's the
Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" by Sister Sister.Albums he performed on during
the course of his career include She's the Boss by Mick Jagger, Some
People by Belouis Some, Let's Dance by David Bowie, KooKoo
by Debbie Harry, Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove by Nile
Rodgers, Out of Order by Rod Stewart, Anthology by Carly
Simon, Living in Fear by Power Station, We are Family and Love
Somebody Today by Sister Sledge, Diana by Diana Ross, Addictions,
Vol. 2, Best of Both Worlds and Riptide by Robert Palmer, Thank
You by Duran Duran, C'est Chic, Take It Off, Believer and Risque
by Chic, Like a Virgin by Madonna and Jody Watley. In 2003 he
was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which would take his life soon after when
he was just 48 years old.Two
years later, in 2005, he was recognised for his contribution to music when
he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame along with the other
members of Chic.
