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 (Results 1-25 of 42 records)

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  
(Results 1-25 of 42 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Thompson, Will L.," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109998.

Thompson, Will L.. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109998.

"Thompson, Will L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.

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

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