Joe Thompson
December 9, 1918 – February 20, 2012
Joe Thompson was a renowned bluegrass and old-time folk fiddle player who, for the past several decades, kept the tradition of black country fiddling alive around the world. Thompson was just 6 or 7 years old when he first picked up the fiddle, learning to play by watching his father. His first fiddle lacked strings so he fashioned them out of wire from a screen. By the time Thompson was 8, he had already landed his first gig, playing with his brother at local dances and such. He would continue to do so well into the 1930s. As the years went on, Thompson found himself touring the world and playing every major bluegrass festival along the way. He even graced the stage of Carnegie Hall. In 2007, he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. And in 2009, he recorded and released an album with the popular African-American neo-trad trio, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. The album, Carolina Chocolate Drops & Joe Thompson was released to cheers from fans and critics alike. Joe Thompson was 93 when he passed away on February 20, 2012.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
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