Changes

==Thompson's singing career==

==Thompson's singing career==

Thompson's father originally sang in a quartet in Augusta, and Ronnie developed similar interests at a young age in part to please the senior Thompson. After he had left the Air Force, Thompson himself sang with a [[gospel]] quartet at Robins Air Force Base, and by 1955, having created his own quartet, he was heard on local [[radio]] in Macon. In time, he drifted into [[Country music]] and made his first such record in 1958.<ref>Don Rountree, "Alderman Finding Success in Popular Song Field," ''Macon Telegraph'', April 19, 1964, p. A6</ref> In 1960, Thompson took over several radio and [[television]] programs for Friedman's Jewelers. His television show was broadcast in Macon, Augusta, and [[Asheville, North Carolina]]. An observer said that the telegenic Thompson "projects sincerity, with a seductive overlay of devotion, patriotism, and simple honesty. He is a pleasing public speaker, and he comes across beautifully on television."<ref>Williams, pp. 75, 96</ref>

Thompson's father originally sang in a quartet in Augusta, and Ronnie developed similar interests at a young age in part to please the senior Thompson. After he had left the Air Force, Thompson himself sang with a [[gospel]] quartet at Robins Air Force Base, and by 1955, having created his own quartet, he was heard on local [[radio]] in Macon. In time, he drifted into [[Country music]] and made his first such record in 1958.<ref>Don Rountree, "Alderman Finding Success in Popular Song Field," ''Macon Telegraph'', April 19, 1964, p. A6</ref> In 1960, Thompson took over several radio and [[television]] programs for Friedman's Jewelers. His television show was broadcast in Macon, Augusta, and [[Asheville, North Carolina]]. An observer said that the telegenic Thompson "projects sincerity, with a seductive overlay of devotion, patriotism, and simple honesty. He is a pleasing public speaker, and he comes across beautifully on television."<ref>Williams, pp. 75, 96.</ref>

Thompson's singing style was described as "pleasant Country-Western baritone-bass, with a hard 'r' twang."<ref>Shannon, Gospel Singer, p. 18.</ref> Thompson once admitted that he wonders what might have happened had he stuck to music as a potential career and insists that "I would have been successful had I stayed in the music business."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson: Whatever Else, His Reign Was Never Dull," ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' December 7, 1975, p. A8.</ref>

Thompson's singing style was described as "pleasant Country-Western baritone-bass, with a hard 'r' twang."<ref>Shannon, Gospel Singer, p. 18.</ref> Thompson once admitted that he wonders what might have happened had he stuck to music as a potential career and insists that "I would have been successful had I stayed in the music business."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson: Whatever Else, His Reign Was Never Dull," ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' December 7, 1975, p. A8.</ref>

Thompson was in a line of southern politicians who had been musicians: Governor and [[U.S. Senator]] [[Theodore Bilbo]] of [[Mississippi]], Governor [[W. Lee O'Daniel]] of [[Texas]], and Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] of [[Louisiana]]. Davis, immortalized for his song "You Are My Sunshine"<ref>Robert Sherill, ''Gothic Politics in the Deep South'' (New York: Grossman Publishers, 1968), p. 31</ref> once told Thompson, "If you want to have any success in politics, sing softly and carry a big [[guitar]]," a play on an old [[Theodore Roosevelt]] adage.<ref>Eric Welch, "Gospel-singing Jeweler Is 'Country' Candidate", ''Macon Telegraph'', August 26, 1967, p. A1.</ref>

Thompson was in a line of southern politicians who had been musicians: Governor and [[U.S. Senator]] [[Theodore Bilbo]] of [[Mississippi]], Governor [[W. Lee O'Daniel]] of [[Texas]], and Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] of [[Louisiana]]. Davis, immortalized for his song "You Are My Sunshine"<ref>Robert Sherill, ''Gothic Politics in the Deep South'' (New York: Grossman Publishers, 1968), p. 31</ref> once told Thompson, "If you want to have any success in politics, sing softly and carry a big [[guitar]]," a play on an old [[Theodore Roosevelt]] adage.<ref>Eric Welch, "Gospel-singing Jeweler Is 'Country' Candidat,",''Macon Telegraph,'' August 26, 1967, p. A1.</ref>

In Thompson's last year in office, he commissioned a portrait of the late African American [[singer]] Otis Redding, best known for "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay."missing in the transition between Mayor C. Jack Ellis, Macon's first black chief executive, and current Mayor Robert Reichert, a Democratic former member of the Georgia House. Thompson, through his career in gospel singing, had been personally friendly with Macon's well-known musicians, including Redding, [[James Brown]], [[Little Richard]], Wayne Cochran, and the Allman Brothers.<ref>Williams, What Makes Ronnie Run?, p. 92.</ref>

In Thompson's last year in office, he commissioned a portrait of the late African American [[singer]] Otis Redding, best known for "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." He offered the portrait to Governor Busbee for use in the state capitol, but it remained in Macon until late in 2007, when it went missing in the transition between Mayor C. Jack Ellis, Macon's first black chief executive, and current Mayor Robert Reichert, a Democratic former member of the Georgia House. Thompson, through his career in gospel singing, had been personally friendly with Macon's well-known musicians, including Redding, [[James Brown]], [[Little Richard]], Wayne Cochran, and the Allman Brothers.<ref>Williams, What Makes Ronnie Run?, p. 92.</ref>

==Mental depression==

==Mental depression==