Hayden Thompson

Biography

Hayden Thompson (March 5, 1938 – December 31, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter and rockabilly musician. He is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Life and career

Thompson was born in Booneville, Mississippi, United States. During high school Thompson formed the Southern Melody Boys, who made a 1954 recording which led from a radio session. "I Feel the Blues Coming On" was sung by Thompson and gave them another radio appearance on the "Louisiana Hayride" show. Thompson then joined the Dixie Jazzlanders who toured Mississippi. He relocated to Memphis, Tennessee and made an unreleased recording in 1956. "Love My Baby×Love My Baby1999 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 33 tracks1Fairlane Rock2:352Love My Baby2:163Blues Blues Blues2:104Don't You Worry2:155One Broken Heart2:316Mama, Mama, Mama1:557Rockabilly Gal2:288Call Me Shorty2:039Kansas City Blues2:5310I Feel the Blues Coming On2:4111I Love Country Music2:3612Brown Eyed Handsome Man2:1713It Won't Be Long Until the Summer2:3914Act Like You Love Me2:3915Frankie & Johnny2:2416Pretending2:1017Goin' Steady2:4118Pardon Me (version 1)3:1019Old Kris Kringle1:3620That's All Right Mama1:4421I'll Hold You in My Heart2:4322Queen Bee1:5523Shake Rattle and Roll2:0424Funny How Time Slips Away2:3825Keys to My Kingdom1:3426Good Rockin' Tonight2:0727Pardon Me (version 2)2:4228Guess I'd Better Be Moving Along2:0929Love My Baby (alternate take)2:3830One Broken Heart2:3231You Are My Sunshine2:4432Blues Blues Blues (version 2)2:3133Congratulations to You Joe2:29" was issued on the Phillips International label in September 1957, and Thompson toured alongside Sonny Burgess and Billy Lee Riley. The following year, Thompson moved again, this time to Chicago, Illinois, where he gained a residency at Highwood's Tally Ho Club and at the Rivoli Ballroom, Chicago's latest country music venue. He played three times at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in 1966.
Thompson's recording of "$16.88" for Kapp Records, sold sufficiently to secure him an offer to record his debut album. Here's Hayden Thompson was released in 1967. Several recordings took place in the early-1970s, but circumstances meant that Thompson left the music industry at this point and worked as a limo driver. He re-emerged in the mid-1980s, becoming a regular performer on European rockabilly revival tours Charly Records released an album of his in 1985. Further albums were released, mainly by various European record labels, over the three decades. These included The Time Is Now (1990).
Thompson died in Glenview, Illinois, on December 31, 2025, at the age of 87.

Compilations

Love My Baby (1999) (Collection of earlier work)