Lee Thompson:
Western Music’s Best Friend

By Voleta Hummel

Lee Thompson was a salesman. Yes, he sold automobiles and RVs for a living, but more importantly he worked very hard to sell western music and western music performers everywhere he went. No one was ever surprised to see him at concerts as far away as California or Branson, Missouri, and they always expected to see him in shows near his Arizona home. He served on the Board of the Western Music Association, was a longtime Tombstone Western Music Festival Board member, a SASS member (a.k.a Singing Sandy), and an emcee extraordinaire. Several years ago Esther Dollarhide, current president of the Tombstone Festival Board, said, “I realize just how lucky we are to have Lee Thompson as our emcee!” In an article I wrote after the 2005 Tombstone festival I said that Lee would be my nominee for TOP emcee of contemporary western music shows.

Lee never shortchanged a performer with his introductions. He worked tirelessly to uncover as much information about a performer as possible and then would ensure that the audience understood just what a marvelous act they were privileged to experience. When ever you saw Lee you knew you were being met by an honest, unselfish friend who was genuinely happy to see you. He was always welcoming new fans and performers into his circle of friends and once he met them, never forgot their names. Lee Thompson is one of my heroes and one of the best friends western music has ever had.