Donny Thompson - musician - songwriter - audio engineer

Donny Thompson musician - songwriter - audio engineer - producer

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My Solo Act

My Music

Production Services

Contact

Bio

Links

Guestbook

Home

Hello and welcome to my web site!

This is the place to find out what I'm doing, where and when I'm gigging, and who I'm gigging with. You can also listen to my original music, and learn more about the various production services that I offer as an audio engineer, producer, session player, arranger and audio/studio consultant.

The links above will take you to the appropriate pages.

Thanks for visiting, and feel free to sign the guestbook!

My Solo Act

My Solo Act The big band "sound" without the big band price!I'm a musician, primarily guitar and vocals. As a solo act, my engagements include private parties, corporate functions, country clubs, restaurants, taverns, small clubs and fundraising events. My style is classic rock/pop & soul, from the era between 1966 - 1989. What I do... I pre-record all of my own backing tracks: drums, bass, keyboards, strings, and even my own harmonies, I then leave out whatever parts I'll play live, like acoustic or electric guitar and vocals, and then perform those parts live over my own custom recorded tracks. The benefit to the client is that I can fit into much smaller spaces than a band can, my volume level is instantly adjustable with the turn of one dial and because my sound is so full, you get the big band "sound" without the big band price-tag!My set list includes great classic rock and pop music from artists and bands like The Eagles, The Beatles, The Doobie Brothers, Jimmy Buffet, Steely Dan, Grand Funk and many others. Feel like dancing? I do quite a bit of classic 70's R&B and Dance material as well - songs by great bands like Kool & The Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Spinners, Rod Stewart and The Commodores - music that can get your crowd up and on their feet! I also do softer sets, appropriate for dinners/ banquets and events where lighter background music is preferred. Songs by artists like Billy Joel, Elton John, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Sting, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne and Todd Rundgren set a nice, smooth vibe for those times. Click on the "Demo" link to the left or click here to listen to a few medleys of some of the songs/styles that I do.Please call me at 330-780-9619 for more info, or click on the "contact" link above to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! -D.

Set List

Partial Set List (as of 10/2011

The songs below reflect a partial list of my current repertoire.

Play That Funky Music

Let's Groove

September

Ladies Night

Get Down On It

Jungle Boogie

Get Down Tonight

That's The Way I Like It

Brick House

Thinkin' About You

Mustang Sally

Caribbean Queen

More Than A Woman

King Of Wishful Thinking

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy

Superfreak

Give It To Me Baby

Let's Whip It

New Sensation

Jessie's Girl

867-5309/Jenny Jenny

Don't Dream It's Over

Melt With You

Centerfold

My Sharona

What I Like About You

Pretty Woman

Every Breath You Take

One Thing Leads To Another

Take It On The Run

Come And Get Your Love

Somebody's Baby

Do It Again

Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Chevy Van

Dancin' In The Moonlight

I'’ll Be Around

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love

Signed Sealed Delivered

Superstition

I Wish

Long Train Runnin'

Wild Nights

Brown Eyed Girl

Sister Golden Hair

Prove It All Night

Strange Magic

Brown Sugar

Maggie May

Daisy Jane

Bad Time To Be In Love

Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)

You Won't See Me

You're Gonna Lose That Girl

The Night Before

If Not For You

Hello It's Me

I Saw The Light

So Into You

Tequila Sunrise

One Of These Nights

Witchy Woman

How Long

Found Out About You

Too Late To Turn Back Now

Margarittaville

Cheeseburger In Paradise

Baby Hold On

I Can Dream About You

Bad Case Of Lovin' You

Let It Ride

Love Is The Drug

Night Moves

Main Street

Into The Night

Against The Wind

Shambala

Free Fallin

I Need To Know

Philadelphia Freedom

Talkin' In Your Sleep

In The Dark

Don't You Forget About Me

Free Fallin'

You're The Only Woman

How Much I Feel

Carolina In My Mind

Shower The People

Daniel

Southern Cross

Lyin' Eyes

To Love Somebody

Show & Tell

Day After Day

We Just Disagree

Love Look What You've Done

Fallin' In Love

Ain't No Sunshine

You Are Everything

And I Love Her

Heart Of The Night

Just My Imagination

Oh Girl

Wonderful Tonight

Fields Of Gold

Everything I Own

Sara Smile

She's Gone

My Girl

Just My Imagination

Her Town Too

Cherish

Demo

Below are a few demos, in medley form, of me performing some classic rock and dance material.

Turn on your computer's speakers, then click on the play triangle in the center of each player to hear that demo. Make sure you stop one player before starting another.

Enjoy!

dance medley.mp3

classic rock.mp3

dinner music 2.mp3

Classic Rock Medley Demo

Soft Rock Medley Demo

Dance Medley Demo

Call 330-780-9619 for more info, or click on the "contact" link at the top of the page to send me an email.

Schedule

Solo Act

Performance Schedule

Date Venue Location Time

10/22 /2011 Old Whedon Grille 200 N. Main St, Hudson OH 8:30pm - 11:30 pm

(Saturday) just north of The Clocktower

ph# (330) 650 - 0013

My Solo Act
Set List
Demo
Schedule

My Music

Below are several original songs; these selections will change from month to month and will cover most of what I've recorded over a period of over 25 years or so, from my earliest works in 1985 to my most recent releases. Make sure your computer speakers are turned on, then click the "play" triangle symbol in the center of the player of the song you want to hear. Make sure you stop one song before starting another so that you don't hear them all mashed together!

Only Everyday MP3.mp3

And So It Goes MP3.mp3

Only Everyday From the album "Really Quite Normal" (2009)

And So It Goes from the album "Sound of Separation" (1998)

Production Services

Studio

As a formally trained audio engineer & producer, I owned and operated A.I.R. Productions in Canton, Ohio from 1988 - 2003. While I don't have my "big" room anymore, I still record and produce clients (by appointment) in a small home - based professional studio. My current platform is digital, using SONAR as my main recording format. I have a great selection of high quality, studio microphones and pre amps, processors and special FX as well as a variety of synthesizers, electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitars, guitar amps and drums. Primarily, I work with individual artists and songwriters, helping to produce demos for live work , as well as arranging and producing singer/songwriters who are looking to add a bit more to their sound for album release and sales; and can accomodate any artist who is looking to further their careers by releasing CD's or selling their music via digital download through outlets like iTunes.

As a session player, I'm available for hire as a drummer, rhythm guitar player, vocalist and voice over artist.

I also have access to the Northeast Ohio area's best session players for hire; lead guitar, acoustic guitar, male and female vocalists, bass guitar, sax, brass and strings. While I'm primarily a recording and mixing engineer, I don't do much mastering - because I'm not a true Mastering Engineer. However, because of my years of experience in the studio in working with these people, I do have access to fantastic mastering facilities and extremely talented mastering engineers that I can contact for you - and because I understand the process and the language - I can act as a liason for you with these people and facilities when it comes time to put the final touches on your project for release.

Some of the other related services I offer include recording demos for voice over artists, air demos for radio DJ's, MIDI Sequencing, synthesizer and drum machine programming, audio for video, streaming audio for web based applications and remote studio and live recording.

I'm also available for studio consultation, please click on the "consultation" link to the left for more information.

corporate

I have extensive experience working in the corporate sector as an audio engineer and consultant. A few of my clients include Rubbermaid, Little Tikes, Gencorp, Edward Jones & Associates, Firestone/Bridgestone, The University of Akron and The Stark County Prosecutor's Office.

I can provide voice-over narraration for employee orientation CD's and message on hold discs, produce audio for video and custom designed and recorded music, along with special effects transitional audio like "sweeps" and "stingers".

I can also provide remote digital audio and video recording services for seminars, speeches, presentations and meetings, as well as delivery, setup and operation of public address systems for small venues, and then provide short run duplication of the content on CD's, DVD's, flash drives - and even cassette tapes, if requested.

My presence, appearance and demeanor are professional at all times.

I respect the surroundings I am in and I also understand three key components of working in the corporate field:

quality product, budgets, and deadlines.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

I can be reached at 330-780-9619 , or you can send me an email by clicking on the "contact" link

at the top of the page. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your project.

consultation

Building a small studio? Interested in installing a small PA system in your club, school, church or business? Are you looking for instruction in audio recording and the production process?

I'm available as a consultant for all of the above; and one thing that separates me from other audio consulting firms is that I don't sell audio equipment, so you can count on professional and unbiased advice when determining your budget and when making equipment purchases.

I can help you decide what you need and, just as importantly, what you don't need - to get the job done right.

Perhaps you are a student considering a career in professional audio production? Or maybe just a home recording songwriter/singer who needs to expand their knowledge and better their skills?

As a formally trained audio engineer and producer, and the former owner of a state of the art recording facility for over 15 years, I can offer my services as an instructor to help introduce you to the basics of the craft, or, to further what you may already know. I can teach in my studio, or, better yet, I can come to you and help you learn on your own gear, in your own environment, so that you can apply the knowledge using familiar equipment in familiar surroundings. Some of the topics covered are: microphone design, technique and placement, gain structure, dynamic processing, EQ, effects, MIDI sequencing and production, using virtual soft synths and various plug ins, basic mastering and the mixing process.

Please contact me at 330-780-9619 for more info and rates, or click on the "contact" link above to send me an email. Phone and online (Skype) consultation service is also available for those outside my travel area, call or email for details.

Studio
corporate
consultation

Contact

Donny Thompson Cell: (330) 780 - 9619 Email: donnyair_neo.rr.com

Bio

ABOUT Donny...

Donny Thompson has been a professional musician for over 30 years, working as a drummer, bass player, guitar player and vocalist.Along with being a regular fixture on the local Akron - Cleveland - Northeast Ohio circuit, he has toured extensively, both nationally and internationally as well.His band credits include Ohio's well known Easy Street Band, (1982 -1988 on bass and vocals, and later on drums and vocals for the reunion shows) Cleveland top 40 band Goodfoot (1989 - 1995, drums and vocals) Akron Dance Band favorite LaFlavour (1995-1996 on drums and vocals) and is currently the rhythm guitar player and vocalist for Jonah Koslen's Stage Pass Now. He is also half of the classic rock duo Audio Amigos, and is a rhythm guitar player and vocalist for the 1970's light rock tribute band The Summer Knights.Donny also works as a solo act, performing classic rock, pop and soul in various venues in the Northeast Ohio area.To see where he's playing, please click on the "My Solo Act" link at the top of the page.Donny was also the owner of A.I.R. Productions from 1988 - 2003, a multi track recording facility in Akron (and later in Canton, Ohio) where he was an audio engineer, producer, songwriter and arranger. As an audio engineer, producer, session player and consultant, he still works in the recording field; for more info on this, please click on the "production services" link at the top of the page.
Links

my other projects

Here are some of the other projects I'm involved in. click on the band logos below to be redirected to those sites.

The Summer Knights

Audio Amigos

A classic rock/pop duo I'm in with my old friend Brad Marinchick

- a tribute to 1970s light rock

Recreating - live and in its entirety - the classic 1977 MSB album "Stage Pass"

links to friends 1

Located on this page - and on the next page - are links to fellow artists who I've had the great fortune to work with over the years and whom I've become great friends with. Click on the Artist's picture below to be taken to their websites.

Giovanni Mastro

Westside Steve Simmons

Jonah Koslen

My great friend and brother since the heady days of the early 80's, Westside and I have been told we had a great time while travelling on the road together in The Easy Street Band. Anyone who knows Westside knows one thing for sure: You're never bored when he's around! An incredibly talented performer, songwriter and singer, both as a solo artist and as the driving force behind The Easy Street Band, and the absolute, hands-down best front man I've ever worked with...I'm proud to call him one of my closest friends. Check out his site by clicking on his picture above.

An incredible guitar player, perhaps the best I've ever had the good fortune to work with. Gio and I worked together in the 80's and 90's with Cleveland top 40 band Goodfoot and with original projects/bands The Drama Kings and Super G. We've also logged more studio session time together than I can remember.

A gifted songwriter, vocalist, drummer and engineer as well, I'm honored to call him my great friend. Check out his site by clicking on his pic above.

My good friend, my brother, Jonah is a fantastic artist, writer and performer. From his days with MSB and Breathless to the Stage Pass Now show and his new Fleetwood Mac Tribute project "Dreams Unwind", Jonah is a true pro. Check out his site by clicking on his pic above and "Strike It Up!"

links to friends 2

Terry Fairfax

Roger "Duke" Hatfield

As a musician, there are always "those guys" whom you hear about over the years through reputation on the vine, and really want to work with, but for whatever reasons, don't get the opportunity to do so. Terry is one of those guys for me; his reputation, through the many great acts he's worked with, speaks for itself: LaFlavour, My Old School, 1964-The Tribute, Mark Avsec of Donnie Iris & The Cruisers and Wild Cherry, along with many others, shows just how respected this guy is by his contemporaries. I'm happy to announce that I'm FINALLY getting a chance to work with this incredible musician in the upcoming months, in the 1970's tribute act The Summer Knights. After so many years, and at long last, I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him! Click on his picture above to go to his website.

My songwriting partner whenever I decide to stray outside the safety of my "rock box" and delve into some R&B, Roger is a great talent - musician, composer, producer, philosopher - and friend.

Roger's list of pro credits reads like a "who's who" of the recording industry, from artists like Bobby Caldwell to BJ Thomas, and his talent and hard work earned him a Grammy in 2008 for his contributions to the children's album

"Songs From The Neighborhood".

A great guy, I'm proud to call him one of my best friends, check out his site by clicking on his picture above.

my other projects
links to friends 1
links to friends 2

Guestbook