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minorities a priority
By Doug Moore, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 08.22.16
Word Count 733
Tony Thompson, left, talks with musician Justin Murray as he records music on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, for a
planned Christmas album. Murray, 19, is recording in Thompson's studio at Kwame Building Group. The studio is part of
Thompson's foundation's efforts to provide opportunities to minorities. Photo: Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/
TNS
ST. LOUIS Tony Thompson is listening to his own music. He creates jazz music when he
needs to unwind or escape. Sadly, he also uses music to ease his pain.
Without music, Id have lost my mind by now, Thompson says from his ofce.
It is here, at Kwame Building Group which he founded in 1991, where he has built a music
studio. The studio is part of his foundation aimed at providing educational opportunities for
people of color.
His newest effort is a music studio summer camp, which just nished its second year and
spawned a record label called TBeats.
Thompson has always loved music. He played keyboards in the University City High
School jazz band, which led to a music scholarship offer by the University of Kentucky.
Instead, he accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Kansas, earning a degree in
engineering and environmental design. The path has been successful for Thompson,
but he never stopped creating music.
The program has paid off, said Jonathan Grifn, assistant principal of Carnahan. More than
200 students have participated in the Gentlemens Club. Every one of them has graduated
from high school.
Roach said Tony and Tyrone Thompson changed lives at Carnahan, where the
Gentlemens Club will kick off a new year shortly after school begins on Wednesday.
Their mission was to transform these young boys into young men. They did just that.
Producing Music
Music continues to play a big part in Thompsons life, and he works hard to provide
musical opportunities for students of color.
Two years ago, Thompson began a summer program to teach students to produce music.
To prepare, Thompson was selected to study in France last year with Young Guru, the
longtime sound engineer for Jay Z.
Like he did after Tyrones death, Thompson composed a musical piece to help deal with
Tyrells death. Its working title is Tragedy.
Quiz
1
(B)
(C)
(D)
Which two of the following sentences from the article include central ideas of the article?
1.
2.
3.
4.
(A)
1 and 2
(B)
1 and 3
(C)
1 and 4
(D)
2 and 3
Which answer choice BEST characterizes Thompson's reaction to his brother and nephew's
deaths?
(A)
(B)
He put most of his energy into writing songs about his brother and nephew.
(C)
(D)
What is MOST likely the reason the author included the detail about Thompson's opportunity to
study jazz in college?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Answer Key
1
(B)
(C)
(D)
Which two of the following sentences from the article include central ideas of the article?
1.
2.
3.
4.
(A)
1 and 2
(B)
1 and 3
(C)
1 and 4
(D)
2 and 3
Which answer choice BEST characterizes Thompson's reaction to his brother and nephew's
deaths?
(A)
(B)
He put most of his energy into writing songs about his brother and nephew.
(C)
(D)
What is MOST likely the reason the author included the detail about Thompson's opportunity to
study jazz in college?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)