Chester Thompson, born in Baltimore, Maryland, made his name as a session drummer, going on to play in Frank Zappa's touring band and with Weather Report. His longest standing gig was with Genesis from 1977, playing on their tours in that year, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983/4, 1986/7 and 1992/3 and is featured on their live albums Seconds Out, Three Sides Live and The Way We Walk Volumes 1 and 2. Thompson continues to work with Phil Collins on his solo concert tours, appears on Phil Collins' Serious Hits... Live! live album, and has released his own solo album, A Joyful Noise .
