Mr. Thompson was born in Redditch, Worcestershire and grew up in Ontario, after his parents emigrated to Canada. He studied Drama at York University and embarked upon a successful career in the music industry as both a songwriter and musician. His groups include Stillwater, and one evolved into Edison Lighthouse, who had the No. one record "Love Grows Were My Rosemary Goes". Raymond is a veteran of the television and film industries, where he began as a writer. His first novel, The Number To Call Is… was a bestseller and achieved critical acclaim in 1979.