Ernest Thompson

Ernest Errott Thompson (February 20, 1892 – December 7, 1961) was a blind street musician from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who was one of the earliest country musicians to be recorded in the United States. In his sessions with Columbia Records in 1924, Thompson recorded many songs that today are considered among the most iconic from country music's early history, including "Are You from Dixie?", "Old-Time Religion", "Bury Me Beneath the Willow", "Wreck of the Southern Old 97", "Life's Railway to Heaven" and "Little Rosewood Casket".

Blinded as the result of a work-related accident in his late teens, Thompson spent most of his life as a street musician, singing to his own accompaniment on guitar and harmonica. In 1924, he was discovered by a Columbia A&R (Artist & Repertoire) representative who signed him to a recording contract. Thompson traveled to New York City for three recording sessions that year and returned in 1930 for two more sessions. However, sales of his records proved disappointing, and Columbia cancelled his contract. After a couple sessions with another label, Thompson's recording career ended, and he returned to his life as an itinerant musician, playing on the streets well into his fifties.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 20, 1892, Died December 7, 1961 (High Point)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: harmonica, guitar, vocalist, banjo, kazoo

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 51 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 81724 10-in. 4/25/1924 War town quick-step Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81725 10-in. 4/25/1924 Mississippi sawyer Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81726 10-in. 4/25/1924 Don't put a tax on the beautiful girls Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81727 10-in. 4/25/1924 Are you from Dixie? Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81728 10-in. 4/25/1924 Little brown jug Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica (self-accompaniment) instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81729 10-in. 4/25/1924 How are you goin' to wet your whistle? Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81730 10-in. 4/25/1924 Red Wing Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica (self-accompaniment) vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81731 10-in. 4/25/1924 Snow deer Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81732 10-in. 4/25/1924 Sparrow bird waltz Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar  
Columbia 81733 10-in. 4/25/1924 Kiss waltz Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81734 10-in. 4/25/1924 Yield not to temptation Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81735 10-in. 4/25/1924 Life's railway to heaven Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and guitar instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81736 10-in. 4/25/1924 Yellow rose in Texas Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81737 10-in. 4/25/1924 Soldier's joy Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81742 10-in. 4/26/1924 The wreck of the Southern Old '97 Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81743 10-in. 4/26/1924 Lightning Express Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81744 10-in. 4/26/1924 Chicken roost behind the moon Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with banjo and harmonica vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica  
Columbia 81745 10-in. 4/26/1924 Coon crap game Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with banjo and harmonica instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist, harmonica  
Columbia 81746 10-in. 4/26/1924 Frankie Baker Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica  
Columbia 81747 10-in. 4/26/1924 Jessie James Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica  
Columbia 81748 10-in. 4/26/1924 Climbing up the golden stairs Ernest Errott Thompson Harmonica solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica  
Columbia 81961 10-in. 9/9/1924 Weeping willow tree Ernest Errott Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Columbia 81983 10-in. 9/9/1924 The little rosebud casket Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Columbia 81984 10-in. 9/9/1924 The old time religion Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
Columbia 81985 10-in. 9/9/1924 I'm going down to Jordan Ernest Thompson Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica instrumentalist, guitar, harmonica, vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 51 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Thompson, Ernest," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115306.

Thompson, Ernest. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115306.

"Thompson, Ernest." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115306

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