Tony Thompson

Anthony Ulysses "Tony" Thompson, Jr. was an American singer–songwriter. Thompson was best known as the lead vocalist of the American R&B quintet Hi-Five, which had hit singles such as "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" and "I Can't Wait Another Minute". After the group disbanded in 1994, Thompson found solo success the following year with his debut album Sexsational in 1995. After leaving Giant Records, Thompson was signed to Bad Boy Records; one of two new artists added to the roster for 1997; joining the Bad Boy family that included The Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Mase, The Lox, Total, 112,and others. Thompson made Bad Boy his home for three year where he record music, however never released. In a 2005 New York celebrity radio show Thompson made the statement, that [he and Puffy decided to part ways, he wanted to start work with his on label] he then returned his home state of Texas by mid 2000. By 2003 Thompson had reinvented the once popular 1990s Hi-Five teen music group for a maturer fan market; they included up and coming music artists around Texas: Jonathan Stewart, Deon Braxton, Joshun Nicholson, and Terrance Murphy (1993-94) from the 1990s Hi-Five group. Thompson also established his independent record label N'Depth Entertainment; Thompson along with business partner (Tristan Trotter) are the executive-producers for two albums projects for the new Hi-Five. They released in 2004 "Five Days to Christmas" that included six favorite holiday classics, along with a newly written song "Come In From the Snow"; due to a small quantity pressed, this Christmas CD is consider rare from a collectors stand point. Thompson's next project "The Return" release October 2005; in a promotion, statement release said it was "a labor of love" a R&B and hip-hop, 16-track group effort; this album featured very notible Texas rap artist:Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs & Harmony, Bun B, and other guest artists. In a promotional appearance for "The Reurn" new album/CD, November 4, 2005, on Wendy Williams Experience radio show, both Thompson and bandmates were blindsided by a cease and desist letter, which the radio host read aloud over the air waves; sent on behalf of two former Hi-Five bandmates by their attorney; citing their legal ownership to stop use of the Hi-Five "name" as a intellectual and momentary demand; this stopped distribution of album/CD and sales. Shortly afterward, November 22, 2005, a lawsuit was filed in New York Federal District Court a third former bandmate who quit the teen 1990s group twice joined the initial Complaint filed. This action was to prohibit Thompson from "...right rob use of the trade-service mark or Trade name "Hi-Five or Hi-5" in connection with recordings by a singing group composed of fewer than all original members of the singing group that had success performing under that name in the 1990s; seeking a preliminary injunction prohibiting Defendants from" "selling, manufacturing, advertising, marketing or otherwise ultilizing the mark Hi-Five/Hi-5." and a Summary Judgement"Anthony Thompson was named as lead Defendant, along with band mates (John Doe), several distributors, retail outlets stores, including some major retailers: Amazon, Walmart, and RN'D his primary distributor; this not only stopped sales, but destroyed a 2-1/2 year good project and large investment. A year later November 2006 Thompson returned to him hometown Waco, Texas, for a local night club appearance; by 2007 Thompson had moved from Dallas, Texas back to Waco; he was working on new music with anticipation to release later that year. In May 2007, Thompson met with several of his former 1990s Hi-Five bandmates, at least two plaintiffs of the lawsuit were present for the discussion of a Hi-Five reunion. Less than two-weeks later Thompson's body was found by security outside of the apartments where he resided. Thompson died on June 1, 2007 in Waco, Texas at age 31 years. In July 2007 the name "Hi-Five, Hi-5" was not a famous name by a N.Y. District Court judge; therefore was not settle or dismissed at time of Thompson death. The lawsuit would continue, but only against the distributor RN'D; the three Plaintiffs motion for preliminary injunction and Summary Judgement, both denied for not competent evidence; the Plaintiffs notified the Court of defendant Thompson's death in June 2007; however the case was not dismissed until August 2009, over two years after Tony Thompson death on June 1, 2007. On June 10, 2010 a special ceremony was held for Tony Thompson's grave site headstone installation. Tony Ulysses Thompson is buried at Doris Miller Memorial Park in Waco, Texas.

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