We are heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of Dave Thompson, a wonderful husband, father and musician. A graduate of the University of Toronto, Dave began a career as a jazz pianist with the Dave Thompson Trio, was the featured soloist on CTV’s "The Julie Show” and joined the musical theatre community with many local productions as well as performing at the Charlottetown Festival. Radio audiences are familiar with Dave’s opening theme for the late Peter Gzowski’s “Morningside” show.
Dave may be best remembered as the musical director for the first Toronto production of “Cats” and he toured the show across Canada and repeated this role for “Les Miserables” in Toronto, across Canada and in the US. He was also the musical director of various productions such as ”Crazy for You”, “Oliver!”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Rat Pack”. Dave also toured across America with productions of “Cats”, Evita” and “Chicago”.
Dave was nominated twice for Dora Awards as Musical Director for the Toronto productions of “Anne of Green Gables” and “Cookin’ at the Cookery”.
He also enjoyed playing piano for the Toronto productions of “Movin’ Out”, “Jersey Boys”, “Women Fully Clothed” and many concerts with the late Michael Burgess.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Karen and his two children Danielle and Ty-Gwynn.
His funeral will take place on Sunday, December 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Pine Hills Funeral Centre, 625 Birchmount Road.
Visitations will take place on Saturday, December 15th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday December 16th at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.