— submitted || Aaron Thompson (right) plays with his father Ron before Speaker Jody Richards and members of the Kentucky House of Representatives in Frankfort.

Thompson plays before House, Senate

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

OLIVE – It was just four years ago when then eight-year-old Aaron Thompson picked up a banjo and started to pick. Now, the 12-year-old national title winner continues to make leaps and bounds on his way to local fame.

“It was an accident, actually,” Aaron’s mother Dawn Thompson said. “He took a ball to the face during a baseball game that broke his nose. After that, he decided he wanted to something a little less hazardous.”

Like the rest of his family, Aaron is a fan of bluegrass music and thought the banjo would be worth a shot.

It was a wise decision, as it turns out.

Aaron began taking lessons with Marshall County’s own Scottie Henson and quickly proved adept.

“Scottie told us after the first couple of lessons that Aaron would be able to take it anywhere he wanted,” Thompson said.

And so he has. In addition to several competitions and performances at the Kentucky Opry in Draffenville, Aaron holds the national title in the beginner’s division of banjo competition. He also had the honor of opening for The Oak Ridge Boys with other members of the Kentucky Opry.

Most recently, Aaron was invited to show his picking prowess before the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate.

“It was really nerve-wracking,” Aaron said. “There were a lot of people there.”

Still, like any good performer, Aaron plucked through, playing a banjo rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky.”

“My Grandpa is a magistrate in Calloway County,” Aaron said. “He’s friends with Rep. Melvin Henley and Senator Ken Winters. Once they heard I’d won some competitions and titles, they wanted to hear me play for themselves.”

Henley and Winters passed word along, and before long, Aaron was standing in front of the House with his father, picking away.

“I got to meet some of the senators and a judge,” Aaron said. “I got a tour of the Capitol, too, and that was cool.”

Aaron also received citations in his name and the honor of returning to the Capitol as a page in the future.

“We’re really excited about it,” Thompson said. “I’d really like to see him get to do that. It’s an experience most kids don’t get, and I think he’d learn so much.”

Aaron has a busy schedule this summer, though, and if county residents keep a close watch, they’re bound to find him in the limelight as the season progresses.

“He’s going to be playing at the Opry quite a bit this summer, with the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ group,” Thompson said. “He’ll be competing in a few events, as well.”

According to the Kentucky Opry website, www.kentuckyopry.com, Aaron will also make his debut with the newly-formed Stars Bluegrass Band.

“It’s a really great program,” Thompson said. “There are some really talented young people that perform at the Opry.”

Currently, he continues his lessons under the tutelage of Tommy Lynn. However, as for Aaron’s long-term plans, he’s unable to say.

“I just like to play,” Aaron said. “Who knows where I’ll end up with it?”

If past performances are any indication, though, it’s a sure bet the folks of Marshall County will be seeing Aaron make waves on the bluegrass circuit for years to come.