Will L. Thompson

William Lamartine Thompson (November 7, 1847 – September 20, 1909) was an American composer and music publisher. He founded the W. L. Thompson Music Company and tried his hand with some success at secular compositions before finding his forte in hymns and gospel songs.

Birth and Death Data: Born East Liverpool (city in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States), Died September 20, 1909 (New York City (most populous city in the United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-4442 10-in. 4/26/1907 Softly and tenderly Frederic Freemantel Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor E-4442 8-in. 4/26/1907 Softly and tenderly Frederic Freemantel Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-14455 10-in. 2/16/1914 Come where the lilies bloom Neapolitan Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor B-18139 10-in. 7/20/1916 Come where the lilies bloom Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor C-18139 12-in. 7/20/1916 Come where the lilies bloom Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-21482 10-in. 3/4/1918 Softly and tenderly Harry McClaskey Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-33935 10-in. 11/24/1925 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and pipe organ composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-51735 10-in. 4/25/1929 Softly and tenderly John Seagle ; Leonard Stokes Male vocal duet, with organ composer  
Victor BVE-71610 10-in. 2/23/1932 Happiest days of all Carter Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and autoharp composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-82814 10-in. 7/30/1934 Jesus is all the world to me Jenkins Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and mandolin lyricist  
Victor BVE-82846 10-in. 7/31/1934 Jesus is all the world to me Smith’s Sacred Singers Male vocal ensemble, with piano lyricist  
Victor BS-056544 10-in. 10/12/1940 Lead me gently home, Father The Drum Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BS-060987 10-in. 3/20/1941 Softly and tenderly Carroll Hollister ; John Charles Thomas Baritone vocal solo, with organ composer  
Victor PD6VB-2240 10-in. 5/28/1946 Softly and tenderly Harmoneers Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor D7VB-0991 10-in. 6/20/1947 Lead me gently home, father Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal trio, with string band composer  
Victor D9VB-2240 10-in. 9/13/1949 Softly and tenderly Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band composer  
Columbia 78259 10-in. 1/21/1919 Softly and tenderly Earl F. Wilde Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 79195 10-in. 5/20/1920 Come where the lilies bloom Gloria Trumpeters Trumpet quartet composer  
Columbia 80795 10-in. 1/17/1923 Come where the lilies bloom Criterion Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 30198 12-in. 12/12/1908 Softly and tenderly Henry Burr ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia W140950 10-in. 9/17/1925 Softly and tenderly Anthony and Harrison Male vocal duet, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
Columbia W142993 10-in. 12/7/1927 When you're lonely Small and Mays Male vocal duet songwriter  
Columbia CO47805 10-in. 4/11/1952 Softly and tenderly Carl Smith ; The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle Mixed vocal quartet, with string band composer, lyricist  
OKeh S-7157 10-in. approximately January 1920 Softly and tenderly Royal Dadmun ; Reed Miller Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
OKeh W402072 10-in. 8/6/1928 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Foundation Quartette Male vocal quartet, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
OKeh W402276 10-in. 3/11/1929 Softly and tenderly Keith Pooser ; Merritt Smith Male vocal duet, with fiddle (violin) and guitar composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E30166 10-in. 6/20/1929 Softly and tenderly Old Southern Sacred Singers Male vocal quartet, with organ composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E37346 10-in. 10/30/1931 The sinner and the song Al and Joe Blackburn Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E37376 10-in. 10/28/1931 Softly and tenderly Frank and James Mccravy Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, and piano composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E15975-E15976 10-in. 6/16/1925 Softly and tenderly Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with orchestra, string quartet, organ, bells, and chimes composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E16974-E16975 10-in. 11/30/1925 Softly and tenderly Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with string quartet, organ, chimes, and bells composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E20524-E20525 10-in. 10/26/1926 When you’re lonely Nick Lucas ; Sam H. Stept Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano songwriter  
Brunswick E21140-E21141 10-in. 1/7/1927 Softly and tenderly Homer A. Rodeheaver Male vocal solo, with organ composer, lyricist  
Brunswick A99-A101 10-in. 5/14/1924 From day to day Cinderella Roof Orchestra ; Herb Wiedoeft Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick DAL6772 10-in. November 1930 Softly and tenderly Bel-Canto Quartet Male vocal quartet composer, lyricist  
Brunswick LA1542 10-in. 12/14/1937 Lead me gently home, Father Sons of the Pioneers Male vocal quartet, with 2 guitars and string bass composer, lyricist  
Edison 4382 10-in. 12/30/1915 Come where the lilies bloom Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 7797 10-in. 2/14/1921 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 7835 10-in. 3/9/1921 The sinner and the song Fred East Baritone vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 19032 10-in. 2/6/1929 Softly and tenderly Sue Harvard Female vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison N-723 10-in. 2/6/1929 Softly and tenderly Sue Harvard Female vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Vocalion 13718-13719 10-in. 9/17/1924 Softly and tenderly George Reneau Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Thompson, Will L.," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109998.

Thompson, Will L.. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109998.

"Thompson, Will L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109998

External Sources

Wikipedia: William L. Thompson

Discogs: Will L. Thompson

Grove: Will L. Thompson

IMSLP: Will L. Thompson

RISM: Will L. Thompson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Thompson, Will L. (Will Lamartine), 1847-1909 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no95005737

Wikidata: William L. Thompson - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8002932

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/221597660

MusicBrainz: William L. Thompson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/55e3a8de-b8a5-4f24-9a9a-bd49dbadf1a8

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/351171 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/351171

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.