Cliff Notes – ‘Force of nature’ and legendary bassist Danny Thompson dies age 86
- Danny Thompson, the acclaimed bassist known for his work with Pentangle and collaborations with artists like Kate Bush and John Martyn, passed away peacefully at home in Rickmansworth at the age of 86.
- Renowned for his versatility, Thompson blended jazz, blues, and folk music throughout his prolific career, earning recognition as a “force of nature” in the music industry.
- Despite receiving accolades such as the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement in 2007, Thompson remained humble and focused on his passion for music, stating he was open to playing across genres.
‘Force of nature’ and legendary bassist Danny Thompson dies age 86
Danny Thompson, legendary bassist, dies age 86.
Jazz icon Danny Thompson has died ‘peacefully’ at his home at the age of 86, confirmed his team.
A tribute to the bassist was shared on his Instagram today, confirming he died yesterday (September 23) in Rickmansworth.
The post read: ‘Legendary acoustic bass player Danny Thompson died peacefully yesterday at his home in Rickmansworth, UK.
‘A musician who was both beloved and admired by everybody he worked with, his body of work is unparalleled in its quality and also in the incredibly varied number of musicians he worked with.’
Thompson worked extensively throughout his career, blending jazz, blues, and folk music as part of iconic group Pentangle.
His tribute noted how he worked with everyone such as Kate Bush and John Martyn, as well as ‘featuring on the Thunderbirds theme tune’.
He was well known for his work in jazz group Pentangle.
Thompson worked prolifically throughout the years
Thompson first began to play the bass at 16 years old, reportedly having a big sign telling him to ‘practice’ whenever he entered the room.
He had played bass for the legendary Roy Orbison ‘when The Beatles were still the opening act’ and collaborated with everyone from Nick Drake to Stan Tracey.
The statement continued: ‘Danny was a force of nature. A player who served the song and who enriched the lives of every single person he met. He will be sorely missed.
‘He is survived by his wife Sylvia and his son Dan Junior.’
In an interview with Louder Sound last year, Thompson was still eager to play with new musicians and grow his collection of collaborations.
He was called a ‘force of nature’ by friends
He shared: ‘I never say I’m not going to play with someone because they’re working in a different kind of music to me. I’ll always have a play, and it’s that which has led into all kinds of different things.
‘Back in the 60s I used to get a lot of grief from jazzers, asking me why I was bothering to play all that folk stuff. But I was never bothered what type of music it was. It was music, you know? Plain and simple.
‘The only thing I cared about was if I liked it or not, and if I liked it, then I was going to play it. Simple as that.’
Thompson’s hard work was recognised in 2007 when he received BBC Radio 2‘s Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement, although he was said to be uncomfortable with accolades.