Lucky Thompson, born Eli Thompson on June 16, 1924, in Columbia, South Carolina, was a prominent American jazz musician known for his work as a tenor and soprano saxophonist. He moved to Detroit, Michigan, during his childhood and began his musical journey after graduating from Cass Technical High School in 1942, joining Erskine Hawkins' band. Thompson played with notable swing orchestras, including those of Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine, and Count Basie, before establishing himself in the bebop and hard bop scenes alongside legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis.

Thompson's style was a sophisticated blend of swing and bebop, characterized by a beautiful tone reminiscent of Ben Webster and influenced by Don Byas. He was known for his original improvising approach and his ability to connect the swing era with the more complex bebop style. In the 1950s, he recorded as a bandleader, notably forming a unique saxophone-guitar-bass trio for the album "Tricotism" in 1956.

Disenchanted with the music industry, which he criticized for its exploitative practices, Thompson moved to Paris, where he lived and recorded from 1957 to 1962, and later to Lausanne, Switzerland. He briefly taught at Dartmouth College in the early 1970s before retiring from music. In his later years, Thompson lived in Seattle, Washington, where he passed away on July 30, 2005, from Alzheimer's disease. His legacy includes a significant influence on jazz saxophone playing and a body of work that bridged musical eras.