Pianist Charles Phillip Thompson was better known to his musical colleagues and fans as Sir Charles Thompson. He received the moniker “Sir Charles” from saxophonist Lester Young. Thompson was born on March 21, 1918 in Springfield, Ohio and first studied violin and saxophone before taking up piano as a teen. By high school, Thompson’s family was living in Kansas City, and he would occasionally sit in with the Bennie Moten band subbing for Count Basie at the keyboard.

During his career, Thompson worked mainly in small group settings with musicians like Coleman Hawkins and Howard McGhee. During the 1940s he also recorded with Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Illinois Jacquet. In 1946 he spent time filling the piano chair in Lucky Millinder’s big band.

During the 1970s and 1980s Thompson toured North America, Europe and Japan regularly and after spending some time playing with Jazz at the Philharmonic tours in the 1960s. Thompson recorded seven albums as a leader during his lifetime and also contributed to records made by Ike Quebec, Paul Gonsalves, Joe Williams and Buck Clayton. Thompson moved to Japan in 2002 and passed away at a hospital near Tokyo in 2016 at the age of 98.

Here is a link to a recording of Sir Charles Thompson playing his composition Robbin’s Nest:

"ROBBIN'S NEST"