Joe Thompson (musician)

Joe Thompson
Thompson in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Aquiler Thompson
Born	(1918-12-09)December 9, 1918 Orange County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	February 20, 2012(2012-02-20) (aged 93) Alamance County, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Old-time fiddle
Occupation(s)	Fiddle player, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Fiddle, vocals
Years active	Mid 1920s–2012
Labels	Global Village Rounder

Joseph Aquiler Thompson (December 9, 1918 – February 20, 2012) was an American old-time fiddle player, and one of the last musicians to carry on the black string band tradition. Accompanied by his cousin Odell, Thompson was recognized with several honors for performances of the old-time style, particularly when the genre was repopularized in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, he recorded his first studio albums, consisting of a repertoire rooted in the authentic string band approach.