Their songs included Pop and R&B hits" Oh Girl", "Have You Seen Her", "The Coldest Days of My Life (Part 1)", "Stoned Out of My Mind" and "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People".

His father, a pianist played with Redd Foxx, and musicians Joe Williams and Henry Red Allen Orchestra[3] at the Apollo and The Cotton Club.

[6] While still in high school, Thompson along with Creadel "Red" Jones were part of a vocal group, The Desideros before joining The Hi-Lites whose members included Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, and Clarence Johnson in 1959.

To honor their hometown, they change their name to Marshall & The Chi-Lites and recorded the single, "Pretty Girl" in 1966.

[8][9] In 1967, Thompson landed a position with the house band at the Regal Theater in Chicago as drummer and played for Gladys Knight & The Pips while they were performing a two-week stint there.

By 1977, Record who was lead singer and wrote most of the hits for The Chi-Lites, left to pursue a solo career.

[15] The Chi-Lites continued on with Thompson, Lester and new member Doc Roberson who replaced Kensey.

Thompson along with Lester kept the group together with a different line-up performing on the Classic Soul circuit and corporate events.

Beyonce sampled The Chi-Lites song "Are You My Women (Tell Me So)" for her hit Grammy winning single, "Crazy In Love", with Thompson playing congas on the track.

Thompson, in 2019 received a Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) Award for The Chi-Lites song "Oh Girl" placing No.

[22] On September 4, 2019, singer Jackie Wilson posthumously received a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star and Thompson was one of the guest speakers at the ceremony.

[24] On September 30, 2021, Thompson was honored with the 2,702nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a member of The Chi-Lites.

Actor and comedian Jimmie Walker and radio personality Jeff Foxx were the Presenters.