Lucky Thompson

Lucky Thompson
Lucky Thompson at the Three Deuces, New York, 1947 Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Lucky Thompson at the Three Deuces, New York, 1947
Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth nameEli Thompson
Born(1924-06-16)June 16, 1924
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJuly 30, 2005(2005-07-30) (aged 81)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Tenor saxophone
  • soprano saxophone
Years active1942–1970s

Eli "Lucky" Thompson (June 16, 1924 – July 30, 2005)[1] was an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist whose playing combined elements of swing and bebop.[2] Although John Coltrane usually receives the most credit for bringing the soprano saxophone out of obsolescence in the early 1960s, Thompson (along with Steve Lacy) embraced the instrument earlier than Coltrane.[3][4]

  1. ^ Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  2. ^ "Lucky Thompson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Happy Days - Lucky Thompson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Lucky Strikes - Lucky Thompson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021.