Biography

Danita Thompson Mumphard, a professional singer for 10 years in the St.Louis area, began singing as a youth in churches with her mother, Gwendolyn Thompson, a retired music teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools, and older sister, Kimberly. Her father, Harold Thompson, and uncles Jeter Thompson and Howard Thompson comprise the renowned jazz group Trio Tres Bien. “Music was always in our home and in my heart,” Danita commented. “How could I not want to sing when I constantly heard good, live gospel and good, live jazz played under my roof!”

As Danita matured, Trio Tres Bien began to notice her talents in a new light. “When a gig cropped up at the last minute and we needed a singer, my brothers and I thought we’d give Danita a try,” Harold Thompson said. “The crowd’s reaction to her was so favorable that we kept her on as our featured vocalist.”

Danita’s appearances with Trio Tres Bien at Ozzie Smith’s retirement party and Missouri Botanical Garden’s Jazz Festival attracted the attention of other musicians. She has performed at Powell Symphony Hall for the St. Louis chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi’s annual gospel talent program. Danita has sung at several functions at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE). Moreover, she has performed with Jazz-The Group at the Lake of the Ozarks on several occasions and is featured on saxophonist Rod Tate’s CD, “The Secret Place.”

Danita has always sung for the Lord. As a member of Wings, co-founded by her husband, she participated in the 1999 recording of that group’s well-received CD. “We appeared on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, which was a wonderful experience,” Danita said. Additionally, Danita is a member of the St. Louis Bibleway Church choir. “The Biblical teachings of my pastor and aunt, Dr. Patricia T. Whitelocke, have been my inspiration to share the good news musically.”

Recorded at the Mumphards’ own Reap Pen Studios, Eternally’s songs have four broad messages. “We have songs of praise, songs of God’s empowerment to His people, songs of forgiveness and redemption, and songs of God’s power,” Danita said.

Danita is an academic adviser in the Special Services office at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, helping hundreds of students reach their academic goals each semester. She has three children: Robbie, Amarria, and Jared.

Danita presented her new gospel CD, Eternally, at a sold out concert Nov. 2, 2002. Eternally features 11 contemporary gospel songs, eight of which were written by Danita and husband Robert Mumphard.