On January 18, Belmont’s School of Music presented its Curtain Call Award to 2001 commercial music alumnus Akil Thompson. The award is presented annually to a School of Music alumnus in honor of achievement in the field of commercial and popular music.
Thompson studied composition and arranging with Dr. Jeffrey Kirk, Belmont’s current associate dean for performance studies and his principal instrument, drums, with his father Chester Thompson. Chester is an adjunct instructor in the School of Music and also the recipient of the 2010 Curtain Call Award.
Since graduation, Akil has performed with many artists including Kelly Clarkson, Jonny Lang, LeAnn Rimes, Joss Stone, Jewel and Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys. He has recorded with a number of producers and artists such as Mark Hammond, Michael Omartian, Frank Black of The Pixies, Tommy Sims, CeCe Winans, Donna Summer, Michael Bolton and Melinda Doolittle. Additionally, Akil has produced records for several independent artists including The Myers Brothers, Danny Chambers, Quimi, Kurtis Parks and Rachael Lampa as well as for National Community Church.
