Billy Thompson

Billy Thompson has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Canada. His songwriting, singing and guitar playing feature a unique amalgamation of blues, rock, funk, second line and soul.

Since 2022 Billy has toured with Zydeco great CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band and has backed legends such as Little Milton, Albert King, Earl King and Art Neville, while opening for the likes of Robert Cray, Sonny Landreth, The Neville Brothers, Joe Cocker, George Thorogood and Jimmie Vaughan. He has performed on Barbara Walter’s The View, with the San Diego Symphony, and for the grand opening of L.A.’s House of Blues.

Billy has guested with musical icons the Doobie Brothers, Bill Payne of Little Feat, John Mooney and more. He also played lead guitar for award-winning playwright Keith Glover’s Bluesical, Thunder Knocking on the Door and served as musical supervisor / guitarist for Geva Theatre’s 2019 production, Revival: the Resurrection of Son House.

Billy’s eighth release, BT, which briefly made the Top 25 on the Living Blues and Roots Music Report radio charts in 2018, boasts familiar sonic shapes contributed by long-time musical Los Angeles, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. "A Team" luminaries such as Mike Finnigan, James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Grammy winner, Tony Braunagel, Daryl Johnson. James East, Michael Leroy Peed, Eric Selby, Danny Campbell, Gene Monroe and Michelle Lucas.

Billy’s 2012 release, A Better Man, produced by Braunagel, featured Mike Finnigan, Grammy winner Johnny Schell, Kenny Gradney (Little Feat), “Hutch” Hutchinson, Lenny Castro, Joe Sublett and Darrell Leonard, was nominated by Blues Blast Magazine for 2012 “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year “ and was "Bluesbreaker of the Week" on Dan Aykroyd's Elwood's House of Blues Hour.

A 2025 CD is in the works with Dr John alum David Barard, Derek Trucks alum Doug Belote, NoLa standouts Kirk Joseph,Tom Worrell, Michael Skinkus and DC bandmates Eric Selby and Golder O’Neill. As well, Michael Leroy Peed and Brazillian artist Luciano Laeas.

Some 2023-2024 appearances include the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Great American Music Festival, the Minnesota State Fair, Antone’s 48th Anniversary, the Mendocino Music Festival and Le Festival de Acadiens et Creoles. BT also played in the BB King’s NoLa All Stars, 2017-2018, on NPR’s Mountain Stage 2014 and Humphrey's Concerts and Gator By The Bay (San Diego).