The National Black Collage Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. 1999

 Robert "Bob" Thompson

Robert "Bob" Thompson is a native of Jamaica, New York. He began playing jazz piano while studying instrumental music at West Virginia State College. His first college jazz group, The Modern Jazz Interpreters, won a state Depart­ment Tour to Algiers after competing in the 1964 Inter-Collegiate Jazz Festival at the University of Notre Dame.

These early experiences encouraged Bob to pursue music as a profession. He has since had a rewarding career as a performer, composer, recording artist, and educator.

As a performer, Bob's travels have taken him all over this country and to Brazil, Canada, Europe and Africa. He has been a guest on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio, and Black Entertainment Television's BET On Jazz with Ramsey Lewis. He is co-producer and host of Joy To The World, an annual jazz Christmas special on Public Radio International. Since 1991, Bob has been a featured performer on Mountain Stage, a musical variety show.

Over the years, Bob has worked with some of the finest talent in music, such as Kevin Eubanks, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Omar Hakim, and violinist John Blake. He has also written music for a variety of projects, including "West Virginia, A Film History," the most watched program in the history of West Virginia Public Television.

In 1982 Bob Thompson formed Rainbow Records. 7 In 7 Out, his label's second release brought him national attention after it reached the top ten on the jazz charts. Bob then made three recordings for the lntima/Capitol label. Brother's Keeper, Say What You Want, and Wilderness. His recordings on Atlanta's lchiban International Records are: Love Dance, The Magic In Your Heart, Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit, a collection of jazz arrangements of tradi­ tional spirituals and Lady First, released in 1997. Bob's latest venture, in part­ nership with his son Robert, is the formation of "colortones.com", an Internet­ based record label and multi-service music company.

During the winter quarter of 1997 Bob Thompson was the Rufus K. Putman Visiting Professor at the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio. He has received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from his alma mater, West Virginia State College, and an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from the University of Charleston.