Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born January 20, 1971), known professionally as Questlove American musician, drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, designer, New York Times bestselling and James Beard Award-nominated author, and cofounder of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group, the Roots.
Thompson began performing on South Street in Philadelphia using drums, while Tariq rhymed over his beats and rhythms. Thompson and Jay Lonick, a childhood friend, were known for improvisational “call and response” percussion battles with plastic buckets, crates, and shopping carts. This style translated into Thompson’s usual drumset arrangement, with most drums and cymbals, positioned at waist level, emulating his original street setups.
He is the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the Roots serve as the house band, and a four-time Grammy Award-winning musician. He is also an adjunct professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Ahmir Khalib Thompson was born into a musical family in Philadelphia on January 20, 1971. His father was Arthur Lee Andrews Thompson, from Goldsboro, North Carolina A singer, he became known as Lee Andrews and was lead with Lee Andrews & the Hearts, a 1950s doo-wop group. Ahmir’s grandfather Beachy Thompson had sung with the gospel group, the Dixie Hummingbirds. Ahmir’s mother, Jacquelin Thompson, together with his father, was also part of the Philadelphia-based soul group Congress Alley. His parents did not want to leave him with babysitters so they took him with them when they were on tour.
CAREER
In the early 2000s, Questlove began to move away from playing music to producing music. He also helped to perform as a drummer for some bands, including The Philadelphia Experiment. He also wrote scores for some movies, played the drums live on various television shows, and even played his music in movies. He also started his own Pandora radio show in 2016.
Film And Television Career
Questlove began to play music on television in 2004 when he played for Chappelle’s Show. In 2009, he picked up a more permanent gig, playing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2011. Later, he worked with Fallon again when he joined The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014. He continued to play on the show to this day. Some of the other shows he has played music for are listed below.
2012 Soul Train Awards, Top Five, Roots, Hamilton’s America
Quest Loves Food
Even though it may seem to have nothing to do with his other pursuits, Questlove also owns his own catering company, which he named after himself: Quest Loves Food. His company serves mostly comfort food. He hopes to one day have food trucks that travel to music festivals all over the country.
Awards And Accomplishments
With his band, the Roots, Questlove won three Grammys. These include the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for Hang in There (2010), Best R&B Album for Wake Up! (2010), and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for You Got Me (1999).
He has also won another Grammy, not with the Roots for Best Musical Theater Album (Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording))He won the Guldbagge Award for Best Music (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975)
Publications
Questlove doesn’t only write music; he also writes books! He published his first book, a memoir, in 2013. This memoir was titled Mo’ Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove. He also has two other books: Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation and Something To Food About Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs.
PERSONAL LIFE
He grew up in backstages of doo-wop shows. By the age of seven, Thompson began drumming on stage at shows, and by 13, had become a musical director. Questlove’s parents enrolled him at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. By the time he graduated, he had founded a band called the Square Roots (later dropping the word “square”) with his friend Tariq Trotter (Black Thought). Questlove’s classmates at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts included Boyz II Men, jazz bassist Christian McBride, jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, and singer Amel Larrieux. He attended senior prom with Larrieux. After graduating from high school, he took jazz and composition classes at the Settlement Music School.
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