About Johnny Thompson

Johnny Thompson, raised and born in Monterey Park, California and a graduate of Mark Keppel High School.

	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.
	Johnny, age 9, performs in 1952 at Clifton's Cafeteria, Los Angeles.
	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.
	Cactus Kids perform at Yosemite National Park, 1953. From left to right: Johnna Halvass, Johnny Thompson and Sharon Grimm.
	Cactus Kids perform in 1953 at Squeekin Deacon Ranch Hour.
	10 year old Johnny Thompson with "Squeakin' Deacon" in late 1953. Playing a 6-string Hawaiian lap steel guitar, Johnny won first prize, a gold-plated watch on The Deacon's Sunday morning live radio program. The backup band was Eddie Cletro and "The Round-up Boys" featuring Ernie Ball on pedal steel. This was the beginning of Ernie's professional musician career. Johnny's father asked Ernie if he would become his teacher, and young Johnny became Ernie's first student. This was the beginning of a 50-year friendship until Ernie's death in 2004.
	The Thompson Brothers, age 12 and 10, performed as guest artists on the original 1955 Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club groundbreaking weekly show for kids. This was the same year that Disneyland, called the "happiest place on earth," opened for business.
	"THE THOMPSON BROTHERS, Steven, 11, (left) and Johnny, 13, won the Exchange Club junior instrumental state championship at Fresno. The boys live at 1200 S. Garfield Ave. They hace completed a Disney Mouseketeer production due for release in the fall" -Taken from "Monterey Park Progress," July 4, 1957.
	Exchange Club article featuring Johnny and Steven Thompson.
	Exchange Club article announcing the winners.
	Thompson Brothers, John and Steven, final performance at the National Association of Music Dealers, Long Beach, California in 1958. John played a custom built iconic Bigsby double-neck 10-string pedal steel guitar.
	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.
	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.

Johnny Thompson Music

	Johnny Thompson in 1959 at first location at 1200 South Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park.
	Johnny Thompson in 1962 at second location at 112 North Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park. Johnny Thompson still owns the same phone number AT-0873 (280-8783).
	Newspaper showing the grand opening of Johnny Thompson Music's third (and final) location. Can you believe guitars started at $17.95 and drums at $36.95.
	Grand opening of Johnny Thompson's third (and current) location. During the 1980's, the store was divided into three distinct sections.
	Johnny Thompson (center) with staff in 1965.
	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.
	4,200 RMS watts amplifier rack used by Johnny Thompson Sound. This system was used primarily for larger arenas and outdoor venues, including the Sunshine Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1971.
	Johnny Thompson Music Business Card - 1968
	Johnny Thompson Music story as appeared in Chinese Daily News in 1982.

JTM Logos

Logo used from 1965-1968

Logo used from 1968-1993

Logo used from 1968-Present

Legacy

	Award presented to Johnny Thompson for participation in the Chinese Lunar Festival in 2006.
	From the MKHS Band, a plaque for Johnny Thompson, Honorary Band Member.
	Award presented to Johnny Thompson from then Mayor, Frank Venti.
	Joe Lamond, CEO of NAMM presenting Johnny Thompson with a plaque that commemorates 50 years in the industry.
	A Closer look at the plaque
	Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly Business Improvement District Advisory Committee
	Certificate of Congressional Recognition
	JTM featured in a World Journal newspaper article on March 6, 2012.