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At age 10, I won a radio local amateur musician contest on LA radio, where 23 year-old Ernie Ball was featured on Bigsby pedal steel guitar. I became Ernie’s very first student and he became my hero, mentor and big brother.
At age 11, I played in the “Cactus Kids” billed as the youngest western band in Southern California. We performed for several years free on summer Sundays at Knott’s Berry Farm Musical Theater.
By age 14 in the summer of 1958, I became a the national amateur “steel guitar rag” champion in the National Music Association’s (NMA) yearly summer event produced by industry pioneers Don Randall and Tom Walker, founders of Fender Sales and partners with Leo Fender beginning 1953. Randall coined the names of Fender guitars such as Broadcaster (1950), Telecaster (1952), Stratocaster (1954), Jazz Master, Jaguar and many more.
Johnny Thompson in late 1960's at first location, 1200 S. Garfield Ave., Monterey Park, CA.
JTM Grand Opening in 1965.
Johnny Thompson (center) with staff in 1965.
Grand opening of Johnny Thompson's third (and current) location. During the 1980's, the store was divided into three sections.
Johnny Thompson in 1962 at second location, 112. N Garfield Ave, Monterey Park, CA. Johnny Thompson still owns the same phone number AT-0873 (280-8783).
During the 1960s, JTM's focus was on rock n' roll sales and rentals left forefront is "Hammond" B-3 rental organ and right forefront are "Leslie" amplifiers used with Hammond organ rentals.
Johnny Thompson Music story as appeared in Chinese Daily News in 1982.
For about 10 years from 1985-1995, I was bass player and band leader for “Hot Rod Lincoln,” a local classic Soul/Funk group which included four horns.
1965-1968 |
1968-1993 |
1993-Present |
NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond presenting to Johnny Thompson January 17, 2009.
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