One of the most revered Hammond organists alive, Chester Thompson has led a charmed musical life - writing, recording, and performing for four decades with two of the legendary bands to emerge in the 1960s and 1970s, Tower of Power and Santana. Arriving in the Bay Area in 1969, Thompson worked with stalwart San Francisco saxophonist Jules Broussard before forming his own quartet, eventually releasing his aptly named 1971 debut, Pwerhouse, on the Black Jazz label.
He served a 10-year stint with Oakland-based funk phenomenon Tower of Power beginning in 1973, composing most of the band's instrumental tunes and touring relentlessly before leaving to explore new horizons with Santana.