In 1960, Bob Thompson received a one-year music scholarship to West Virginia State University which much to his surprise turned into a new lifelong home. As a jazz pianist, he leads his own music group (Bob Thompson Unit, Bob Thompson Trio), has played all over the globe, and is the resident pianist on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage. West Virginia, however, is his little oasis. Many think he learned to play jazz in his birthplace of New York, but he clarifies that he learned to play jazz in West Virginia.
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💻 Directed, Produced, and Edited by Jillian Carney Howell
🎥 Shot by Nate Cesco
✂️ Edited by Kadin Tooley
▶️B-Roll from Bob Thompson Perosnal Archives, Bob Thompson Unit, & Mountain Stage KZfaq
🎨 Logo by BaseCamp Printing Co in Charleston, WV ➡️ ow.ly/asDm50CrbaR
🎞 Animation by Julie Winegard ➡️ ow.ly/BMsU50CrbaS
🎶 Opening Jingle by Cypress ➡️ / cypresswv and on Spotify ➡️ open.spotify.com/artist/00hUd... 🎵 Music: Bob Thompson Unit
🙏 Special Thanks to Resurrection Church of Charleston, Buck & Bette, and Katie Persinger for location help!