The woman who created such hot jazz and blues rolls for the Chicago-based Columbia/Capitol company was born in 1902 in Illinois - her parents were Norwegian immigrants and her father Thomas Thompson was a carpenter. He died some time between 1910 and 1920, and her mother remarried to Frank J. Zadek, a detective in the Chicago PD.

The 1920 census shows Marjorie Thompson, age 18, living at home with her mother, stepfather, and brother, and working as 'piano player - department store'.

Her first known roll was cut for Columbia in November 1922 (#441, Toot Toot Tootsie, Goo'bye)  and her last known was issued in August 1926 on the Supertone label retailed by US mail-order firm Sears & Roebeck (#5784, I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers).

The 1930 census shows her again still at home, but now listed as 'Margaret Thompson' and 'Divorced'. Her profession - 'piano teacher'. In 1940 her marital status has changed to widowed, but she's still at home - her occupation is blurred but seems to be a machine operator (perhaps typing machine operator) in an office.

Her stepfather died December 1941, and her mother died 30th May 1944. Her stepfather's obituary also mentions her brother:

"Sergt. Frank Zadek, a member of the Chicago police force for 35 years, died last night in his home at 2722 North Sayre avenue of a heart ailment. A sister died two days ago. Sergt. Zadek had been assigned to the Racine avenue station. He leaves his widow, a stepson, Harold Thompson, a policeman at Town Hall station, a stepdaughter; two brothers, one of them Henry Zadek, an assistant state's attorney, and a sister."

Marg relocated to Fox River Grove, Illinois in 1944 and never remarried. She died relatively young in April 1959 in Sherman Hospital, Elgin. Her obituary:

"THOMPSON - Marge Thompson, formerly of Logan Square, now of Fox River Grove, Ill.; daughter of the late Bollette Zadek; stepdaughter of the late Frank Zadek; sister of Harold Thompson; dear aunt of Lorraine Hustad and Barbara Ronney. Resting at Warner's Cary-Grove chapel, Cary, Ill., after 3 p.m. Sunday. Funeral Tuesday, 3 p. m., at chapel. Interment local."