Who Is Leroy 'Lefty' Thompson?, Jr.

Very rarely do you encounter a musician that embodies the humility, humanity and expertise to cause the listener to hear and approach music in a different way, but Leroy ‘Lefty’ Thompson, Jr. is indeed an anomaly that encompasses all of these attributes. Born and raised in the borough of Queens, New York Lefty has carved out a unique sound that he discovered when he was an infant and cultivated by the man whose namesake he comes from. At the tender age of five, Lefty had his first professional performing experience and has only progressed upward from there. His father discovered his love for music and the drum in particular prompted him to place the sticks in his hand, and along with his beautiful mother nurtured the gift and promoted his talent at every stage of his development.

Having the strong presence of various types of music around him as a result of both his parents being avid music lovers, his father was a connoisseur of Motown, rhythm and blues, alternative and rock music, but he gravitated to the gospel music that he heard his mother play continuously. Being reared by her in the church, he received his first opportunities to play in the New Greater Bethel Ministries in the early nineties. By him being left-handed he often faced challenges learning his craft, but it was one Sunday morning when a young Leroy sat behind the drum set up of left-handed drummer Frank Smith, that his frustration ended, and his life was completely changed forever.

 

It was also at that time that his maternal grandmother Beatrice Rivers taught young Leroy the importance of his gift being recognized as a talent, and that he should be compensated for sharing it. She was his first advocate and business manager and taught him the power of monetizing his craft and handling his business as a professional. Those very principles she instilled him are what he continues to live by and build on until this day. 

Playing at various local, community and church events, he was able to hold his own among the older musicians and quickly got his ‘chops’ and learned how stay in the pocket, all while creating a good feel that helped him to develop a very keen ear musically. One day after playing at an event, the bass player Curtis Rawls bestowed the name ‘Lefty’ on him and from that day forward it stuck and became his calling card.

It is during this time that producers Darin “Piano Man” Whittington and Dominick Maybank saw the potential in a young Leroy and presented him with his first opportunity to play on the Grammy nominated album Sacred love Songs by T.D. Jakes. This was his first experience in a live studio session with both artists and musicians, and also his first fully credited recording project.

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After his foundation was established, he was presented with his first opportunity to travel overseas by world renowned gospel and jazz legend Queen Esther Marrow. From there he received his formal training as a professional live performer, and graciously learned under the wings of many legendary and skilled performers. Having influences that varied from Jeff Davis, Ricky Lawson, Michael Bland, Yogi Horton and Brian Frasier Moore, his versatility afforded him the ability to transition seamlessly from gospel to rhythm and blues, from there to alternative, world and pop music and would finally land him to where he was destined to be in rock music.

His approach to music is simple, play it like it’s been given to you and add who you are organically into your playing. He is a known and respected music mentor to both old and young, seasoned and newbie and his kind, caring heart, and welcoming demeanor attract people all over the globe. No matter how busy or tired, he never hesitates to take time out to chat or show someone what it is they ask of him. He is known for his integrity, professionalism and loyalty among his peers and those who he has played with and for. His nurturing nature and passion for children has led him to hold curbside sessions with those who desire to learn how to play the drums and other percussion instruments.

 

With a vast repertoire, he has managed to build a career that few people dream of. His current passion is to introduce hybrid drumming to a new generation of drummers, using electronics to create new sounds and techniques. Not only a skilled drummer his chops as a percussionist have been sought after as well. He has mastered the Cajon, tabla, congas and bongos.

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By using fresh and innovative ideas he has created and is currently patenting new soft and hardware, specifically engineered to take the art and varying styles of drumming and sound enhancement to the next level across all genres. His newly formed company Leftronics Multimedia Group, LLC is in the process of creating and designing new products that are bound to revolutionize drumming. This hardware line is functional, yet sleek, compact and travel easily. While the software will introduce new complex sounds that are easy to use and infuse.

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Music has impacted Leroy’s life in many ways, but he credits Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti with helping him to “listen to his ancestors” through the music. He is a very spiritual man that believes in the power of music and its ability to heal, empower and unite people of all races, colors and creeds. Music has afforded him the ability to do what he loves and to share it with the entire world, while allowing him to live a fruitful and comfortable life.

With a new wave of technology now hitting the music scene, Lefty has been a catalyst in creating a new approach to drum sounds by using hybrid drumming made popular in the eighties. After listening to Japanese drummer Akira Jimbo, the world of hybrid drumming and sound opened up Lefty’s approach in another way.

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Even with his extensive resume’, Leroy is ever learning and discovering new techniques to enhance his playing and performance skills. After performing with Rhonda Ross on the mainstage at the largest music festival in the world, EssenceFest, he has undertaken several projects that have taken him back to Europe and have opened him up to the Latin music market as a producer and project consultant. He currently resides in the great city of New York and is diligently pursuing the next chapter of both his professional and personal life.