Yaakov Thompson
This new site has been published on the eve of my 51st birthday. (DUDE) I have played music for 40 of those years. In my teens Dylan inspired my to pick up a guitar and tell a story-- that is the essence of what my music is all about- the stories that happen to each of us everyday.
I have been performing since the age of 14- in those days classy settings like union halls and VFW posts. Although I have not been playing out for a good 20 years, I plan to return to it soon. The last five years have been taken up with recording in my home studio and sharing the music with whoever would listen (hence this site too.)
Since my day job as a rabbi of a Conservative congregation makes gigs very hard, I have found more time for recording (usually way too late at night) than for live performances.
While my professional and academic obligations have always kept me busy, there has never been a time during which a guitar was not a part of my life. I firmly believe that in order to be a whole person you need to use all your talents and pursue every interest that you can. At this point I am learning so many new things and try to use them in all that I do.
I have been in Florida for the past 10 years and lived in the greater New York City area before that-- I am grateful that living in Florida has allowed me to learn from a whole new set of musicians.
In my non-musical life I have been a congregational rabbi for the past 25 years as well as teaching graduate students in the fields of Biblical studies and Judaica. Although I have a Masters degree in Judaica and a Doctoral degree in Biblical Studies, I have no degree in music--- but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night! As you know you can learn a lot about music that way!