Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he was raised in Phoenix, Arizona where he began trumpet studies at the age of ten. His principal teachers include Richard Longfield and Roger Voisin of the Boston Symphony. He has been very active as an international teacher, having been on the faculties of the Northern Arizona University, National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, and McGill University in Montreal, Canada. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras in North and South America as well as Europe. In 1979, he was a prize winner in the first Maurice Andre International Trumpet Competition. Solo recital tours have been in Japan, Canada, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Latin America. As a guest artist, he has appeared with the Summit Brass (comprised of members from Americas finest orchestras) and the Music of the Baroque in Chicago. In 1996 he was seen by over 3 billion people when he performed a jazz/gospel trumpet solo for the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta.

Mr. Thompson has also actively encouraged new compositions for the trumpet. In 1987, he performed the world premiere of Malcolm Forsyths Concerto for Trumpet, which was composed for him and the Montreal Symphony. In 1990 he performed the Quebec premiere of Jacques Hetus' Concerto for Trumpet, and in March of 1992, he gave the world premiere performance of the Glenn Buhr Concerto written especially for him and the Montreal Symphony.