Bob "Norton" Thompson

Bob “Norton” Thompson, the entrepreneur who opened the Nashville rehearsal studio Soundcheck died on March 24, 2023. He was 80. Following gigs as a roadie in the 1970s, Thompson signed on with the Eagles as a guitar tech for Glenn Frey, who became a lifelong friend and business partner. Thompson also worked on tours with the Bellamy Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and others. In 1989, he and his wife co-founded Third Encore rehearsal studios near Los Angeles. After selling that company, Thompson and his family moved to Nashville and opened the Soundcheck facility in 1993, with Frey as co-owner. They sold Soundcheck in 2004 when Thompson retired. In 2020, Thompson published a memoir, Last Encore: My Time With Glenn Frey, The Eagles, And Other Hit Artists.