Danny Thompson, probably the most distinctive bass gamers in British musical historical past, has died peacefully at his dwelling in Rickmansworth, aged 86.
Born in Teignmouth in April 1939, Thompson constructed his personal bass out of a tea chest when he was 13, upgrading it to a Gand double bass two years later. By 16 he was taking part in the dive bars of Soho, and on his return from nationwide service in 1963, he received a gig taking part in electrical bass with Roy Orbison on a tour supported by The Beatles – the one and solely time he ever performed an electrical bass.
Transferring via the burgeoning British blues and jazz scene, Thompson performed with the likes of Alexis Korner, Ginger Baker and John McLaughlin. In 1967, he joined forces with John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Terry Cox and Bert Jansch to kind folk-jazz pioneers Pentangle, with Thompson’s distinctive, fluid double bass type to the fore.
Leaving Pentangle in 1972, he turned John Martyn’s main foil for an imperial part of albums spanning Bless The Climate to One World. Persistently in-demand with jazz, people and pop musicians alike, Thompson additionally performed with Kate Bush (on The Dreaming and Hounds Of Love), David Sylvian, Speak Speak and All the things However The Lady.
In 1987, he belatedly launched into a solo profession which finally produced 5 albums. He additionally performed on upwards of ten albums with fellow folk-rock trailblazer, Richard Thompson.
“Danny was a pressure of nature,” learn an official assertion circulated to press. “A participant who served the music and who enriched the lives of each single particular person he met. He will likely be sorely missed.”
Tributes have been paid on social media by a few of his many followers, pals and collaborators, together with Yusuf / Cat Stevens.
