Singer/Songwriter Lee was born in Durban, South Africa. Frank Sinatra, George Formby, ABBA and Stevie Wonder introduced him to all things musical before the eighties hairspray juggernaught took over. After a couple of years studying jazz guitar and practising his moo maa moo's with Mirium Backhouse he joined rock band Saint Legend in 1991. The band enjoyed three relatively successful years gigging up and down their home country. They supported international rock bands Indecent Obsession and Foreigner and received a fair amount of radio play as well as appearing on local television. After recording their debut album and on the eve of filming their first music video the band split due to reasons that have very much become the rock 'n roll cliche.

Lee emigrated to the UK a short time after and busied himself playing in cover bands until he hooked up with original band Minifish who decided to take him on as their singer. The band managed to score a full page article in the Melody Maker and played gigs at the Rock Garden, Underworld, the Mean Fiddler, and The Orange to name a few before Lee was poached by a German record producer.

Silbersack Recordings based in Halle, Saale signed Lee to a solo deal towards the end of the nineties. The album was produced and recorded with local musicians but was never released.

Since then Lee has continued playing live as the lead singer with function band The GnT Experiment who recently appeared in the BBC production "The Line of Beauty" which aired in 2006. Lee has never strayed far from his passion for songwriting however and performs regular solo gigs throughout Kent.

Rich Mr Sax records spotted Lee in the summer of 2006 and having made an instant and significant impression on owner and chief producer Mark Duggan, he was immediately signed and bought in to record a 4 track EP and album. The video for the single "The Best in Me" was filmed in March 2007 and is included on the EP.

21st December - Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable - 3:30pm

For information on bookings, quotes and availability, please contact me via e-mail or telephone:

0787 653 5567

Whitstable based independent music company and record label “Rich Mr Sax” will be filming a music video at the East Kent tavern and other sites around Whitstable on Sunday March 4th. The video is being shot by Lords Wood based production company “Ground Zero” to promote the forthcoming release of a 4 track CD single “The Best in Me” by Rich Mr Sax’ debut signing “Lee Thompson Band”. “This is an example of how a large scale project can be professionally handled on a truly local basis, by utilising the huge wealth of talent right on our doorstep”, says Mark Duggan – managing director and producer at Rich Mr Sax ltd. “We are all very excited that the video will feature so much of Whitstable, but also that we have been able to complete virtually every stage of the overall project within Kent.”

Lee Thompson was down to headline the show with his band, but instead performed a solo acoustic set as the penultimate performer. This South African singer/songwriter is certainly a force to be reckoned with in his field, and an artist that I am convinced will be big very soon with the right exposure. He is a brilliant singer and guitarist with clear diction that emphasises the very accessible lyrics of his songs. I have to say that there was not a bad one among them, and his encore performing the Otis Redding/Black Crowes classic “Hard to Handle” was awesome. Check this guy out, with or without his band. - Peter Coulston Backstage Pass

If “The Best In Me” is a preview, I can’t wait for the main feature. The four tracks you get here are endearingly simple pieces of songwriting that you can’t help but wish lasted a bit longer.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of David Gray or even a more intelligible Dave Matthews the first time I listened to this EP’s understated songwriting, reverb-soaked acoustic guitars, and catchy lead-lines and progressions. There’s nothing overly flashy here, and that’s a good thing. It’s just good songwriting, strong vocals, and warm acoustic sound.

My one complaint would be that this sounds like one of those albums that you put on and hear the artist really say something to you, but the EP format leaves you wishing there was more. And let’s face it – if Thompson’s biggest problem is that you can’t get enough of his music, he’ll have quite a career ahead of him. - Laney Tarnius Music Inc.