Lee Thornburg

Lee Thornburg er en trompetist, som har spillet sammen med flere kendte musikere og har også været medlem af grupperne Supertramp og Tower of Power. Thornburg spillede også med Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders i 1970'erne, hvor han blandt andre spillede sammen med reformatoren af elektrisk bas Jaco Pastorius. Han spillede med Lowell George på dennes korte turné i juni 1979 for Georges album Thanks I'll Eat It Here. Turnéen stoppede dog brat med Georges død efter to uger. I juli 2001 kom Thornburg med i Tonight Show Band, hvor han efterfulgte Chuck Findley. 6. april 2006 kom vært Jay Leno ved et uheld til at sige at Matt Finders (basun) var bandets trompetist, da gæsten Catherine Keener spurgte Leno hvem der spillede trompet i bandet. Uden forbindelse til denne episode valgte Kevin Eubanks ikke at forny Lee Thornburgs kontrakt. Pr. 10. april 2006 er Kye Palmer trompetist i Tonight Show Band.[edit]

Lee Thornburg's public profile is inextricably tied to the bands he has served, most notably Supertramp, where his trumpet and trombone work defined the later-era sound. As a result, his fanbase is not a distinct entity but a subset of the broader Supertramp community, which engages with him primarily through the band's collective history. There is no formal name for his individual following; fans do not organize under a unique moniker, nor do they mount dedicated campaigns, charity drives, or streaming initiatives on his behalf. Discussions in groups like 'Supertramp Fans' on Facebook focus on lineup changes and tour memories rather than individual worship, reflecting a performer who has always been a functional part of a larger whole.

In the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Lee Thornburg has not yet been placed, as the system has not gathered sufficient data on his individual renown. This absence is unsurprising for a musician whose fame is largely derivative of his associations. While his work with Tower of Power and Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, alongside Jaco Pastorius, is respected among aficionados, no viral incidents, urban legends, or extraordinary fan rituals attach to his name. His documented performances are noted for their musical contribution, not for any dramatic lore. Even the controversy surrounding the 2010 reunion, which drew criticism from Roger Hodgson, centered on the band's leadership, not on Thornburg personally.

In the absence of individual rankings, Thornburg's legacy remains that of a consummate sideman, whose trumpet lines and backing vocals enriched the recordings and concerts of others. His fame, such as it is, is a reflected glow, and his fanbase, while appreciative, has never coalesced into a named or organized phenomenon. As of the latest data, he remains a respected but unranked figure in the broader landscape of popular music.[edit]