SHORT BIO/Discography
Songwriters seem to flourish on the fertile Oklahoma plains. Woody Guthrie, Roger Miller, Leon Russell, J.J. Cale and Jimmy Webb.
Add Verlon Thompson to that list.
Thirty years as a professional songwriter and traveling troubadour serve as credentials. As a solo performer, and as the trusted sidekick of Texas Americana songwriting icon Guy Clark, Verlon has viewed the world from stages everywhere from Barcelona to Binger (his hometown in Oklahoma).
Along the way Verlon Thompson compositions have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Anne Murray, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Trisha Yearwood and many more.
Verlon has co-produced Guy Clark's Grammy nominated cd "Cold Dog Soup" as well as "The Dark", "Workbench Songs" and "Somedays the Song Writes You".
Equally important in his songwriting and live performances, Verlon's guitar work cannot go unnoticed. His guitar can be heard on recordings by Restless Heart, Pam Tillis, and many more, including, and especially Guy Clark.
Verlon was honored to contribute to the score of the Tamara Saviano documentary “Without Getting Killed or Caught”, the story of Guy and Susanna Clark and Townes Van Zandt.
As the in-house musician for Genuine Human Productions (genuinehuman.com) Thompson scores themes and background music for documentaries and special film projects.
In 2019 Verlon hosted his own 13 episode TV show called Barnegie Hall. Filmed at his converted barn/home in rural Tennessee, the show aired nationally on PBS and received rave reviews.
Verlon Thompson is currently on the road. Or in the studio. Or writing in his barn/house on the river in Tennessee...
....but never far from the fertile plains of Oklahoma.
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Verlon has had songs recorded by..
Balladeers: Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, Barbara Mandrell.
Bluegrassers: Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush.
Country Girls: Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss.
Country Boys: Dierks Bentley, Randy Travis, Joe Diffie,Tracy Byrd, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Folk Troubadours: Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ramblin Jack Elliott.
(see complete discography below)
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DISCOGRAPHY
SONG / ARTIST / LABEL
BOATS TO BUILD/JIMMYBUFFETT w/ ALAN JACKSON/RCA
BAD ANGEL/DIERKS BENTLEY w/ MIRANDA LAMBERT & JAMEY JOHNSON/CAPITOL*
* (GRAMMY NOMINEE FOR VOCAL COLLABORATION)
BAD ANGEL/DIERKS BENTLEY/LIVE FROM TELLURIDE
DANCING TO THE BEAT OF A BROKEN HEART /NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/ WARNER BROS
DANCING TO THE BEAT OF A BROKEN HEART/MICKEY GILLEY/MCA
THE GUITAR/RAMBLIN JACK ELLIOTT/ICEHOUSE RECORDS
CROSS MY BROKEN HEART/ SUZY BOGGUSS /CAPITOL*
*(TOP 20 BILLBOARD CHARTS)
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN /THE DEL MCCOURY BAND
ASHEVILLE TURNAROUND/THE DEL MCCOURY BAND/MCCOURT BAND/SUGAR HILL
THE BALLAD OF STRINGBEAN AND ESTELLE/SAM BUSH/SUGAR HILL *
*(IBMA SONG OF THE YEAR NOMINEE)
THE GUITAR/GUY CLARK/DUALTONE *
*(GRAMMY NOMINATED AS ALBUM CO-PRODUCER)
BOATS TO BUILD /JERRY JEFF WALKER
THE FIRST STEP /TRACY BYRD /MCA *
*(BMI MILLION AIRPLAY AWARD)
HE FEELS GUILTY /BOBBIE CRYNER /EPIC
MEN’LL BE BOYS /BILLY DEAN /LIBERTY
MOONSHADOW ROAD T. GRAHAM BROWN/ CAPITOL*
*(TOP 20 BILLBOARD CHARTS)
SAVE THIS ONE FOR ME RICK TREVINO/ COLUMBIA
QUIT WHILE I’M BEHIND/ THE MCCARTER SISTERS /WARNER BROS.
UP AND GONE/ THE MCCARTER SISTERS /WARNER BROS.*
*(TOP 10 BILLBOARD CHARTS)
YOU SAY YOU WILL /TRISHA YEARWOOD/ MCA
ANYTHING GOES/ LARI WHITE RCA – CASSETTE ONLY
AT HOME ON THE RANGE/ HONKY TONK HITS VOL. 2/ LIBERTY
AT HOME ON THE RANGE /SUZY BOGGUSS /LIBERTY
BAD ANGEL VERLON THOMPSONSUZI RAGSDALE/ VNS
THE BLUES AINT NEWS TO ME/ TY ENGLAND /RCA
THE BLUES IN BLACK AND WHITE/ RANDY TRAVIS /WARNER BROS.
BOATS TO BUILD /GUY CLARK/ ASYLUM
BUT NOT FOR LOVE /VERLON THOMPSONSUZI RAGSDALE/VNS
CARELESS HEART /SHELLY WEST /WARNER BROS.
DANGEROUSLY LONELY /JOHNNY LEE /CURB
THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING/ VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
FROM HIM TO HERE LINDA DAVIS /LIBERTY/CAPITOL
GOOD BROWN GRAVY JOE DIFFIE /EPIC
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN /BILLY DEAN /CAPITOL
HANDS/ GUY CLARK/ SUGAR HILL
HAVE A NICE REST OF YOUR LIFE /GREAT DIVORCE SONGS /WARNER BROS
HAVE A NICE REST OF YOUR LIFE/ RANDY TRAVIS /WARNER BROS
HERE I GO/ VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
HOW DID WE GET HERE FROM THERE/ VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
I KNOW TOO MUCH /LISA BROKOP /CAPITOL
I KNOW WHO DROVE HER THERE /LARRY BOONE/ POLYGRAM
I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I FEEL IT/ T. GRAHAM BROWN /CAPITOL
I’M EXPECTING MIRACLES/ T. GRAHAM BROWN /CAPITOL
IF I WERE YOU /THE SHOOTERS/ RCA
IF I WERE YOU /KENNY ROGERS/ WARNER BROS
IF I’M NOT ALREADY CRAZY/ LARI WHITE /RCA
IF I WERE YOU/ OAK RIDGE BOYS /RCA
INDIAN HEAD PENNY /BILLY DEAN/ LIBERTY
INDIAN HEAD PENNY /JOHN CONLEY
INDIAN HEAD PENNY /GUY CLARK/ SUGAR HILL
IT’S LONESOME EVERYWHERE /TY ENGLAND/ RCA
JUST A KISS /VERLON THOMPSON/SUZI RAGSDALE /VNS
LESS OF THE SAME /VERLON THOMPSONSUZI RAGSDALE/ VNS
LIKE THERES NO TOMORROW/ VERLON THOMPSON /VNS
LONG COLD WINTER/ VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
LOVE HAPPENS/ LINDA DAVIS/ LIBERTY
LOVE WON’T LEAVE US ALONE/ VERLON THOMPSON/SUZI RAGSDALE /VNS
LUCKY DOG /KEITH WHITLEY /RCA
LUCKY DOG/ MARK COLLIE/ MCA
LUCKY DOG /VERLON THOMPSON/ VNS
MAKES YOU WANNA SLOW DOWN /VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
MORE THAN TRACKS /VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
NOBODY BUT YOU /VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
RFD 30529 T./ GRAHAM BROWN /CAPITOL
ME LA GUARDAN PARA MI SAVE THIS ONE FOR ME/ RICK TREVINO/ COLUMBIA
SHE’S THE ONE /VERLON THOMPSON /CAPITOL
SLOW GOODBYE /VERLON THOMPSON/ CAPITOL
SMALL TOWNS ARE SMALLER FOR GIRLS/ HOLLY DUNN /WARNER BROS
SOMETHING UP MY SLEEVE /SUZY BOGGUSS/ LIBERTY
THE TROUBLE WITH TEXAS/ VERLON THOMPSON/ VNS
TROUBLEMAKER/ VERLON THOMPSON/SUZI RAGSDALE/ VNS
WILD HORSES /SUZY BOGGUSS /CAPITOL
YOU KNOW WHAT I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT/ BARBARA MANDRELL/ MCA
YOU SAY YOU WILL /ALECIA ELLIOTT /WIDGET
YOU DON’T HAVE THE HEART/ CHARLEY MCCLAIN/ MCA
YOU SAY YOU WILL /HOLLY DUNN/ WARNER BROS
YOU SAY YOU WILL/ BETH NEILSON CHAPMAN /WARNER BROS
YOU SAY YOU WILL /VERLON THOMPSON SUZI RAGSDALE /VNS
I KNOW TOO MUCH /ANNE MURRAY /CAPITOL
‘OL JOE CLARK AKA BANJOE CLARK/ SAM BUSH/ SUGAR HILL
BANJOE CLARK /DARRELL SCOTT/ SUGAR HILL
SURE THING/ JEFF WOOD/Capitol
TROUBLEMAKER/ MILA MASON /ATLANTIC
DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY FROM ME /RANDY TRAVIS/ WARNER BROS
IT AIN’T OVER TIL ITS OVER/ RAY STEVENS/ MCA
A LITTLE OF BOTH /GUY CLARK /SUGAR HILL
MEN’LL BE BOYS /GUY CLARK /SUGAR HILL
BUNKHOUSE BLUES/ GUY CLARK /SUGAR HILL
A MILLION MILES AWAY /JENNY SIMPSON/ MERCURY
I WILL COME BACK AGAIN/MATT KING/Atlantic
AFTER HOURS /PAM TILLIS /ARISTA
A WHISPER AND A SCREAM /PAM TILLIS/ ARISTA
I WILL COME BACK AGAIN/ MATT KING /ATLANTIC
BACKSLIDERS BLUES/ THE THE DEL MCCOURY BAND /SKAGGS FAMILY
LIFE’S JUST TOO SHORT/ JOY LYNN WHITE /LITTLE DOG/MERCURY
BOATS TO BUILD/ GOVE SCRIVENOR/ ROUNDER
WHEN LOVE WAS ENOUGH /TAMMY COCHRAN SONY
MAYBE I CAN PAINT OVER THAT/GUY CLARK/SUGAR HILL
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT YOU/HAL KETCHUM/WARNER BROS
RED RIVER BLUE/JON RANDALL/MCA
MEXICO’S DAUGHTER/DEL MCCOURY BAND
I NEED MORE TIME/DEL MCCOURY BAND
LONELY AND BEING ALONE/STEEL DRIVERS/ROUNDER
AVALON/SYLVIA/ RED PONY RECORDS
IMAGINATION/SYLVIA/RED PONY RECORDS
DON’T BE AFRAID TO DREAM/ SYLVIA/RED PONY RECORDS
MY BEST FRIEND/SYLVIA/RED PONY RECORDS
GOOD NIGHT SLEEP TIGHT/SYLVIA/RED PONY RECORDS
I LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE/SYLVIA/RED PONY RECORDS
BOATS TO BUILD/DAVID FERGUSON/FAT POSSUM RECORDS
Review for "WORKS"
Verlon Thompson spins stories with a novelist’s eye (“Caddo County”) and a poet’s ingenuity (“The Get to You Waltz”). Thirty years on, the celebrated songwriter’s Works spotlights a troubadour in peak form (“El Toro,” “Adalee”). Thompson’s seamless new collection delivers Technicolor dreamscapes as wildly cinematic (“The Guitar”) as they are sharply crafted (“Gone But Not Forgotten”). Dress William Faulkner with faded jeans and a pawnshop six-string and the idea takes shape (“Oklahomagain,” “The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle”). “Verlon sparkles as a songwriter,” says legendary tunesmith Guy Clark. “He’s inspiring.” Not to mention singular.
Thompson’s lyrics strike pages with thunderclap potency. “The windows were open and the curtains were blowing/I’m sorry I ever looked in,” the Oklahoma native sings unsentimentally on “Dinnerbell.” “I jumped off the porch and I ran back down the hill/To where that little footbridge goes over the stream/I watched that folded up note and those fresh flowers float/Away with the rest of my dreams.” Few frame heartache as vividly. Fewer still follow with such wholly satisfying resolution (“Mike and Betty’s Daughter”).
Interpret the title Works as you wish. Contents suggest the literate implications. “Even the love songs are story-oriented,” Thompson explains. “I’ve found that I’ve started leaning more that way in my live show, which I’ve heard people refer to as a travelogue. I start with the ‘The Show We Call the Business,’ which is about coming to Nashville, and then I take them back to Oklahoma where it all started with ‘Oklahomagain,’ ‘Caddo County’ and ‘Dinnerbell’ and bring them back to the present day with these other songs. It’s my experiences. They’re not all personal experiences, but mostly.”
Thompson’s back story already has achieved significant heights. Consider the staggering number of bold names who have covered his material: Randy Travis (“Don’t Take Your Love Away from Me”), Kenny Rogers (“If I Were You”), Barbara Mandrell (“You Know What I’m Not Talking About”), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“Dancing to the Beat of a Broken Heart”), Sam Bush (“The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle”) and Trisha Yearwood (“You Say You Will”) begin the list. Add Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson (“Boats to Build”), Suzy Bogguss (“Cross My Broken Heart”), Anne Murray (“I Know Too Much”), the Del McCoury Band (“Backslidin’ Blues”) and Keith Whitley (“Lucky Dog”) and we still barely scratch the surface.
Notably, country superstars Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert’s trio version of Thompson’s “Bad Angel” earned a Grammy nomination last year (Best Country Collaboration with Vocals). “It’s such a fun track,” Bentley says.
A humble craftsman at core, the simple hat tip fulfills Thompson’s creative aim. “Having a song covered is what I live for, but it doesn’t have to be a star,” he says. “There’s a couple guys in Bloomington, Illinois, called Austin Found, and they do a lot of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt and practically my whole catalog. It just flatters me to no end. I think about when I first started out and the songs that I chose and why I chose them. I think, man, these guys are putting me on that level. They’re spending time dissecting chords and learning lyrics. It’s the ultimate compliment.”
By the way, Clark’s important here: More than two decades ago, the Dean of Texas songwriting enlisted Thompson as his touring partner (as well as frequent co-writer). Eyes immediately opened. “Guy changed my musical life,” Thompson says. “I’d been struggling with my Capitol Records deal, and it was such a letdown. Guy said, ‘Man, come out on the road with me and I’ll show you. You don’t need a band and a big bus and payroll. All you need is some great songs. You go out there with great songs, there are people who will gather in these little rooms all over the world, and they’ll keep you going.”
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