Santana keyboardist featured in Lawton festival
Carlos Santana shouted from the stage of the Ford Center (now Chesapeake Arena), “I know where I am! I am in Oklahoma City where Charlie Christian grew up! If it wasn’t for Charlie Christian, I could not be!” Chester Thompson, then composer and keyboardist for Santana,played in that concert; Anita Arnold was in the audience.
Joe Tilton, a member of the Fairmont District Group, asked Anita Arnold, now Executive Director of BLAC (Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc.), and producer of the Charlie Christian International Music Festival, if it was possible to get Thompson to play in the festival. Chester said “yes.”
For more than 26 years, Oklahoma City native Thompson traveled the world with Santana. Now he returns to Oklahoma to play his first concert at the 29th Annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival since leaving Oklahoma City in the late 1960’s.
In an article, Chester Thompson returns to jazz roots, Thompson revealed that it was listening to jazz organist Jimmy Smith that inspired him to move from playing in church to playing bebop in clubs. He began playing piano at the age of five, and figured out how to play Fats Domino’s version of Blueberry Hill.
His parents recognized his talent and started piano lessons for the budding star. Neither he nor his parents know that one day he would receive a dozen Grammy and Latin Grammy awards while touring with Carlos Santana.
At the age of 19, he left Oklahoma City to join the Rudy Johnson Trio for three years. Following that group’s breakup, Chester formed his own band and released his first album under the Black Jazz label, a solo project titled, Power House.
In 1973, he became a member of the band, Tower of Power, beginning a career of writing and playing music. His style became known as dynamic, powerful and creative. Chester is credited with being responsible for most of Tower of Power’sinstrumental hits at their peak.
In his 1983 debut appearance with Santanaon Beyond Appearances, he brought forth a powerful, creative dimension to their sound, according to the article on Santana’s website. During the 26years he was with the band, he played with other musical giants including Wayne Shorter, Earth Wind & Fire, The Temptations and numerous others.
The 29th Annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival will be held in Lawton, Oklahoma from May 21 through 26 and will feature simultaneous jam sessions, the “Battle of the Bands,” and the three day outdoor festival on May 24-26 at the Fairmont Creamery, 411 SE Larrance Avenue.
Thompson will headline the May 25 show and is joined by Barbara, Charles and Trey Burton. Tickets went on sale April 15 and may be purchased in Lawton at Adventure Travel, Phillips Music and McMahon Auditorium. Tickets may also be purchased through BLAC, Inc. at www.charliechristianmusicfestival.comor by calling (405) 524-3800 for more information. General admission tickets to the three-day outdoor events are $5 and reserved seats are $20 for each day.
Sponsors of the festival include The Albert Johnson Family, Arvest Bank, BancFirst, The City of Lawton, Fairmont Creamery, First Mortgage of Oklahoma, Fort Sill Military Base, Jim Glover Chevrolet, Lawton Arts and Humanities Council, Lawton-Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce, Lawton Constitution, McMahon Auditorium, Oklahoma Arts Council, and Temple and Sons Funeral Directors.
The Gayly – May 16, 2014 @ 2:10pm