A concert was to be staged in Hamilton this week in memory of internationally recognised folk and blues singer-songwriter Chris Thompson, a one-time local muso and a familiar sight around Raglan over the years in his trademark wide-brimmed hat and long coat.
Chris – who died aged 73 in late November – had only recently released ‘Beatnik Blues’, one of more than 25 albums he recorded in a prolific career spanning nearly 50 years.
Friends, colleagues and collaborators were to come together this Thursday at the Nivara Lounge, a basement performance venue in Victoria St, to pay tribute to the man and his music.
Chris performed to the very end, fellow Raglan musician Rene Andre – one of 10 artists or groups included in the concert line-up – told the Chronicle. “He was the embodiment of folk and blues … and only ever wanted to make a living out of his music.”
Longtime Raglan muso Dave Maybee who got to know Chris well over five decades also sang his praises this week, describing him as a troubadour and a balladeer. “Chris was a professional performer, a seriously good guitarist who lived and played in many different countries.
“He travelled a lot and was likely to pop up anywhere,” Dave added. “He lived that kind of life.”
Whale Bay artist Xavier Meade paid homage to Chris in a podcast he put together recently for Raglan Community Radio, playing some of the 300-odd songs Chris wrote and chronicling his deep dedication to his craft.
“I was amazed again at his musicianship,” said Xavier. “It was extraordinary.”
Dave recalls Chris playing from the late 1960s at Hamilton coffee bars like the Kontiki Folk Club and Pigeons Late Nite Cafe, where he was very much part of the Kiwi folk scene.
Chris’s big break came soon after when he was chosen to tour overseas with the Julie Felix band as backing guitarist. His solo career took off in London where he wrote the first of his many original songs, London Blues.
Chris was then invited to move to Dublin as musician in residence at Trinity College where a period of musical collaboration and inspiration with like-minded folk – blues and jazz troubadours – followed. His self-titled debut album was released at this time, becoming a highly regarded folk classic, as were two more albums released in the mid-to-late 70s on his return to New Zealand.
Rene Andre remembers Chris performing around this time at Waikato University’s Oranga Cafeteria.
He recalls he was in awe of Chris’s skill as a performer, and of his “exceptional” guitar-playing. As a musician Chris was something of an enigma around campus, Rene adds.
The pair connected and played together later in Raglan where Chris settled with musician and then wife Lynne while they brought up daughter Lora. He released two albums with Lynne in the 1980s, including ‘Together’ which was nominated for a record industry award.
He was involved in the early days of Raglan Radio, and was also a regular at Raglan Musicians Club open mic nights held downtown at Orca Eatery & Bar.
Memories of Chris around this time are often of the quintessential musician carrying a guitar case and wearing a dark, wide-brimmed hat and long coat around town.
Chris’s musical journey took him around the globe playing with folk-blues stars Julie Felix, Wizz Jones and Davey Graham while based in the UK. He also toured with blues legends Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kiwi singer-songwriter John Hanlon.
His songs have been covered by many other artists, including American indie-folk act Fleet Foxes. His song ‘Hamilton’ was covered by the Big Muffin Serious Band who were an act from Hamilton with ties to the Te Pahu-based McGillicuddy Serious Party, which kept Kiwi elections colourful in the 80s and 90s.
He was also a multiple-time Silver Scroll nominee whose songs featured on many compilations throughout the decades.
by Edith Symes