Danny Ray Thompson

{{Short description|American jazz musician (1947–2020)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Danny Ray Thompson

| image = Knoel Scott & Danny Thompson.jpg

| caption = Thompson (right), in 2008

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|10|1}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|3|12|1947|10|1}}

| death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| genre = Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, experimental

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Baritone saxophone,{{Cite web|last=Pinnock|first=Tom|title=Sun Ra: "There's a lot of strange stuff that goes on around the pyramids – why don't you bring a tape?"|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/sun-ra-theres-lot-strange-stuff-goes-around-pyramids-dont-bring-tape-109690/|work=Uncut|date=March 1, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2020}} bassoon{{Cite web|last=Helfet|first=Gabriela|title=Sun Ra's 1986 Poland concert recording released for the first time|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/sun-ra-arkestra-live-poland-vinyl-in-kalisz/|work=The Vinyl Factory|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2020}}

| associated_acts = Sun Ra

}}

Danny Ray Thompson (October 1, 1947 – March 12, 2020) was an American jazz musician.{{Cite web|last=Russonello|first=Giovanni|title=Danny Ray Thompson, 72, Dies; Mainstay of Sun Ra's Otherworldly Band|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/arts/music/danny-ray-thompson-dead.html?curator=MusicREDEF|work=The New York Times|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=March 21, 2020}} He played baritone saxophone with the Sun Ra Arkestra and managed the band for a period of time.{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|title=Sun Ra Arkestra's Danny Ray Thompson Dead at 72|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/sun-ra-arkestras-danny-ray-thompson-dead-at-72/|work=Pitchfork|date=March 20, 2020|access-date=March 21, 2020}}