Butch Thompson

Not to be confused with Butch Thompson (baseball).

Richard Enos "Butch" Thompson (November 28, 1943 – August 14, 2022) was an American jazz pianist and clarinetist, best known for his ragtime and stride performances.

Butch Thompson
Thompson in August 2010
Background information
Born	Richard Enos Thompson (1943-11-28)November 28, 1943 Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	August 14, 2022(2022-08-14) (aged 78) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, ragtime, stride
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Piano, clarinet
Years active	1962–2021
Website	www.butchthompson.com

Music career

Thompson was born in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota,^[1] began playing piano at the early age of three, and began taking lessons at age six. At Stillwater Area High School, he played clarinet in the band. In 1962 he joined the Hall Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band in Minneapolis and remained with the band for 20 years. From 1974–1986, he was a regular and the original pianist on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion.^[2][3] Since the 1960s, he led the Butch Thompson Trio.^[4]

In the 1970s, Thompson's recordings gained popularity in Europe. He toured the continent extensively in the 1970s and 1980s, both as a solo artist and as a band leader or member.^[1] He wrote for jazz publications and produced a radio show, Jazz Originals, for KBEM-FM in Minneapolis.

Selected discography

• Little Wonder (Triangle Jazz, 1987)
• Yulestride (Daring Records, 1994)

Death

Thompson died on August 14, 2022, at the age of 78.^[5]