Sonny Thompson

American R&B pianist, songwriter and bandleader. Married to Lula Reed.
Born on 22 August, 1916 (or 1923) in Centreville, Mississippi - Died on 11 August, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois.
Do NOT confuse with Sylvester Thompson aka Syl Johnson. Both are related to the Federal label.
Began recording in 1946, in 1948 he had two #1 R&B hits on the Miracle (opens in a new tab) label – "Long Gone (Parts I and II)" and "Late Freight". By the early 1950s he had moved on to King Records (opens in a new tab), 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 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.