About George Thompson
Location: Missouri
Occupation: Writer
Bio: Bio I was born in the small town of Ironton, Missouri in the mid-40s. My father was a minister and my mother was the devoted pastor’s wife. We moved when I was three to Kansas City where Dad pastored several churches, then moved to Fulton in 1960 where I graduated from Fulton High School in 1962. Dad was pastor at the Southside Baptist Church from 1960 through 1967. It was during those teenage years that I started writing poetry, articles, short stories and novels. Many poems were of a “grim” nature because I was usually either frustrated or felt depressed when I wrote them. Further in-depth study of myself helped me to see matters in a different, more enlightened way and gave me a much greater peace Bio of mind. That feeling came about when I realized that a Higher Power held control over my life and although I felt free here on earth to explore many things because God gave me the mind to make my own decisions based on the “terms” I had set for myself it was I who set the terms and levels of frustration and worry. Once I turned everything over to God, my writings became more positive and that feeling of emptiness I once had was lifted. My faith in God and the good intentions of mankind grows daily. I believe in the power of words, whether they are written, spoken or through the motions and spelling in sign language. They can be used to empower or defeat, accept or deny. My poetry is just one of many means of communicating. Retired now, I make my home in Ironton once again after being gone for sixty years. I write a poem every day, an article or two a week and have a continuing column at wickedwordsmith.com on the Web. My pleasures are writing, feeding birds and taking care of my new cat, Mandi.
Posts: 146
More from this author
Well, I’ll be dashed! I never know what’s going to be in my mailbox from day to day. I opened this gem—no program notes, shucks!—and could not believe my ears when I played it. Only five songs, folks. But, they were five songs that grabbed me and held on until the last note of “This Year’s Lie” had played. I went to Bennett’s Web site myspace.com/johnnybennett and the first song on the CD, “Chance Meeting,” was playing. The picture on the CD cover just doesn’t do Johnny Bennett justice after seeing him on myspace.com, folks.
This is “not” The Johnny Bennett Band, or The Johnny Bennett Wranglers. This is Johnny Bennett. The group—let’s call it that—is made up of Bennett (vocals/guitar), Trevor Morgan (guitar), Adrian Walther (bass), Richie Peña (drums/programming), and Tim Veazy (piano). Bennett has a rich, full voice that comes across strong and he uses it well without losing control; it’s almost like he could fill an auditorium and sing to the back row without a mike and still have glorious tones. There wasn’t a single warble in his voice. Frankly folks, I was disappointed this CD only had five songs on it. All of them were new to me and I wanted more. I even expected to see a DVD movie play after the last song. This man is good and I don’t know if the producers are timid about showing his talents or just exactly what. But, we definitely need more from this promising singer.
I’m sure he’s had to play in dives and honky tonks and make the rounds of sleazy places, but this singer can go places. I’ve been trying to think of someone to compare his to, but you know what? I can’t think of anyone. He’s not a Garth Brooks, a Brad Paisley, a George Jones, a Kenny Rogers. He’s a Johnny Bennett and that’s good enough for me. I’d love to be sitting in the audience the night he debuts for the Grand Ole Opry. As I said, he can probably sing without a mike and scare up the back row. That’s a powerful singer and that’s what I get when I listen to his CD. I cranked up the volume, I turned it down to a whisper. Every word was clear both ways.
Log on to myspace.com/johnnybennett and listen to his music. You will not be disappointed by the music you hear. In fact, you’re going to walk away from your computer wanting more from this singer. I propose we all write to his production company, False Momentum Songs, and ask them to release more of this man’s wonderful music. Maybe we’re the ones who need to set off an alarm that it’s time to hear more from this man.
