Marshall Thompson

Marshall Thompson (born August 24, 1942), is an American singer and musician. Thompson is best known as an original member of the Chicago, Illinois–based Soul/R&B vocal group The Chi-Lites. Their songs included Pop and R&B hits" Oh Girl", "Have You Seen Her", "The Coldest Days of My Life (Part 1)", "Stoned Out of My Mind" and "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People". Twenty-one of their recordings appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart and thirty-nine appeared on Billboard Soul/R&B Chart, with 11 making the Top Ten list. Biography Early life and education Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 24, 1942, to musician William "Nose" Thompson and Mary Thompson. His father, a pianist played with Redd Foxx, and musicians Joe Williams and Henry Red Allen Orchestra at the Apollo and The Cotton Club. Thompson's father is credited under the name Bill Williams on several recordings for Allen in the 1940s. Thompson grew up on the south side of Chicago. Thompson's uncle, whom he's named after taught him how to play drums at an early age. For high school, Thompson first attended Hyde Park Academy High School and later transferred to DuSable High School where he studied music under the direction of notable music teacher, Captain Walter Dyett. Career While still in high school, Thompson along with Creadel "Red" Jones were part of a vocal group, The Desideros before joining The Hi-Lites whose members included Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, and Clarence Johnson in 1959. In 1964, The Hi-Lites recorded a song entitled, "You Did That to Me", but soon changed their name due to prior use by another group. To honor their hometown, they change their name to Marshall & The Chi-Lites and recorded the single, "Pretty Girl" in 1966. Soon after they changed their name to The Chi-Lites in 1967.