Alan Thompson Interview
Page 1 of 4

Rod Miller (left) and Alan Thompson (right)

Piano keys rattle in his wake. Strings tremble in terror at the approach of his lightening quick hands. Who is this speed demon of ragtime piano? Whose unique sound attracts an audience like ants to a picnic? His name is Alan Thompson Jr., one half of the amazing duo ready to wow the world with four-hand piano.

This interview was conducted at Disneyland on June 8, 1999 while Alan and Rod Miller were recording their Four-Hand Piano CD. The interview was recorded just a few short feet from the piano where Rod Miller and Alan Thompson Jr. amaze hundreds of guests with every performance. As it turns out, this was the first interview Alan has ever given. He was a little nervous at the beginning but relaxed as the interview went on.

Since this interview Alan has been hired to play duets with Rod Miller on Friday and Saturday nights at Coke Corner. And, of course, the ragtime playing Rod Miller can be heard Wednesdays through Sundays at Coke Corner as it has been for over 30 years.

Look for Miller & Thompson on the KTLA Morning News Tuesday, April 4th between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on channel 5 in the Los Angeles area. In other areas, view the live webcast at http://www.KTLA.com.

LaughingPlace: Why don’t we just start with the basics. When and where were you born?

Alan Thompson  I was born in Hollywood, California. June 2nd 1978.

LP  How long did you live in Hollywood?

Alan  After I was born, we moved to Rowland Heights. We lived there for 18 years, then about 18 months ago we moved to Chino.

LP: How did you become interested in ragtime?

Alan: Well I always liked ragtime piano. About three years ago, I bought a book of ragtime sheet music because I’ve always loved The Entertainer and I wanted to learn to play it. I also picked up a cassette recording by Dick Hyman. On the tape I heard his version of The Entertainer along with the Maple Leaf Rag, Elite Syncopations, and Easy Winners, all songs Joplin wrote.

LP: How did you meet Rod Miller, the pianist at Disneyland’s Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner?

Alan: Rod? One day when I was at Disneyland with my marching band, I came by the piano and asked Rod to play the Maple Leaf Rag. He played it for me and I couldn’t believe how fast he could play. I doubted I would ever be able to play like that, but knew right away I had to learn how.

A couple weeks later, I came back and asked him to teach me to play ragtime. He said, I’m not going to teach you because I don’t teach any piano. He told me it takes a lot of commitment and a lot of practice, four to six hours a day. I kept bugging him for three months. Meanwhile, I worked on improving my own ragtime music. Impressed by my progress, he finally said yes.

For the past 15 months, or so, we’ve been doing four-hand piano. It’s a big learning experience. He’s very picky. Now I know what it takes to have each song sound just right.

LP: So what instrument did you play in band?

Alan: The first instrument I played was a clarinet.

LP: Me too. That was my first.

Alan: Started in elementary school, where I played clarinet. It lasted a month max. I didn’t like clarinet because it wasn’t the lead. I always like to have a good part when playing an instrument. I have to have the lead part or I’m not happy.

So a month later I quit. I asked myself which instrument always has the lead part. It came down to the trumpet, because all we played in band were marches. I took up trumpet and played it for nine years.

LP: Did you take up piano while you were still doing trumpet, or was that something that happened afterwards.

Alan: It happened afterwards. Completely after. Actually, I had some classical training on the piano beginning when I was four years old. That lasted for five years. I learned all my scales, chord structures, how to read music, etc.. But I didn’t study the piano again until just a few years ago.

LP: Do you use any of that classical training now?

Alan: Rod doesn’t read music, so it does come in handy. We use a fake book if he’s not sure how the song goes. Since I read music, I play it on the piano and we figure out how the song is supposed to go. He just adds the bass notes, we put it together, and it forms a great song.