Thompson was strongly critical of the music business, later describing promoters, music producers and record companies as "parasites" or "vultures". This, in part, led him to move to Paris, where he lived and made several recordings between 1957 and 1962. During this time, he began playing soprano saxophone.
Thompson was married to Thelma Thompson, who died in 1963. Thompson's son, guitarist Daryl Thompson, played with Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru before embarking on a jazz career in the late 1980s. Thompson also had a daughter, Jade Thompson-Fredericks, and two grandchildren.
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
"Lucky Thompson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lucky-thompson-mn0000302799/biography
"Happy Days - Lucky Thompson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021. https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-days-mw0000126497
"Lucky Strikes - Lucky Thompson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2021. https://www.allmusic.com/album/lucky-strikes-mw0000649753
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ankeny, Jason. Lucky Thompson at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-01-17. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p7680/biography
Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). New York: Penguin. pp. 1397–1398. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0. 978-0-14-103401-0
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Porter, Bob (1975). "Dancing Sunbeam" (liner notes). ABC Records. ASH-9307-2. /wiki/Bob_Porter_(record_producer)
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Chia Hui Hsu, Judy (2005-08-06). "Jazz great Eli Thompson soared for 3 decades, fell silent". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jazz-great-eli-thompson-soared-for-3-decades-fell-silent
Vacher, Peter (5 October 2005). "Obituary: 'Lucky' Thompson". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/oct/05/guardianobituaries.usa
Johnson, John H., ed. (August 15, 1963). "New York Beat". JET. 24 (17). Chicago: Johnson: 64. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2011-04-26. Thelma Thompson, who died of a stroke, was the wife of tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson. They had been separated for over a year /wiki/John_H._Johnson
Johnson, John H., ed. (September 25, 1989). "New Image". JET. 76 (25). Chicago: Johnson: 18. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2011-04-26. /wiki/John_H._Johnson
Ratliff, Ben (2005-08-05). "Lucky Thompson, Jazz Saxophonist, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/arts/05thompson.html
Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). New York: Penguin. pp. 1397–1398. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0. 978-0-14-103401-0
"Monk, Thelonious Discography". Blue Note Records. Archived from the original on 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2012-01-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105204138/http://bluenote.com/ArtistDiscography.aspx?ArtistId=904944&PromoId=&UPCCode=724353213923
Cohen, Noal (November 12, 2018). "Lucky Thompson Discography: 1957-1974". Retrieved December 19, 2018. https://attictoys.com/lucky-thompson-discography-1957-1974/
Cohen, Noal (November 12, 2018). "Lucky Thompson Discography: 1951-1956". Retrieved December 19, 2018. https://attictoys.com/lucky-thompson-discography-1951-1956/
Cohen, Noal (November 8, 2018). "Lucky Thompson Discography: 1943-1950". Retrieved December 19, 2018. https://attictoys.com/lucky-thompson-discography-1943-1950/