Lionel Hampton | |
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 Hampton in 1948 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Lionel Leo Hampton (1908-04-20)April 20, 1908 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | August 31, 2002(2002-08-31) (aged 94) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1927–2002 |
| Labels | Decca |
| Formerly of |
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Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an Americanjazzvibraphonist,percussionist, and bandleader. He worked with jazz musicians fromTeddy Wilson,Benny Goodman, andBuddy Rich, toCharlie Parker,Charles Mingus, andQuincy Jones. In 1992, he was inducted into theAlabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and he was awarded theNational Medal of Arts in 1996.
Hampton was a member of the executive committee of the Writers and Artists for Peace in the Middle East, a pro-Israel group.[1] In 1984, he signed a letter protesting German arms sales toSaudi Arabia.[2]
Lionel Hampton was born in 1908 inLouisville, Kentucky, and was raised by his mother. Shortly after he was born, he and his mother moved to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.[3][4][5] He spent his early childhood inKenosha,Wisconsin, before he and his family moved toChicago,Illinois, in 1916. As a youth, Hampton was a member of theBud Billiken Club, an alternative to theBoy Scouts of America, which was off-limits because ofracial segregation.[6]
During the 1920s, while still a teenager, Hampton tookxylophone lessons fromJimmy Bertrand and began to play drums.[7] Hampton was raisedCatholic, and started out playingfife and drum at the Holy Rosary Academy near Chicago.[8][9]
Lionel Hampton began his career playing drums for theChicago Defender Newsboys' Band (led byMajor N. Clark Smith) while still a teenager in Chicago. While he lived in Chicago, Hampton saw Louis Armstrong at the Vendome, recalling that the entire audience went crazy after his first solo.[10]
He moved to California in 1927 or 1928, playing drums for the Dixieland Blues-Blowers. He made his recording debut with The Quality Serenaders led byPaul Howard, then left forCulver City and drummed for theLes Hite band at Sebastian's Cotton Club. One of his trademarks as a drummer was his ability to do stunts with multiple pairs of sticks such as twirling and juggling without missing a beat.[11]
During this period, he began practicing on thevibraphone. In 1930Louis Armstrong came to California and hired the Les Hite band for performances and recordings. Armstrong was impressed with Hampton's playing after Hampton reproduced Armstrong's solo on the vibraphone and asked him to play behind him like that during vocal choruses.[12] So began his career as a vibraphonist, popularizing the use of the instrument in the process.[7][13]
While working with the Les Hite band, Hampton also occasionally did some performing withNat Shilkret and his orchestra. During the early 1930s, he studied music at theUniversity of Southern California. In 1934 he led his own orchestra, and then appeared in theBing Crosby filmPennies From Heaven (1936) alongside Louis Armstrong (wearing a mask in a scene while playing drums).[14]
As far as I'm concerned, what he did in those days—and they were hard days in 1937—made it possible for Negroes to have their chance in baseball and other fields.
Also in November 1936,[16] theBenny Goodman Orchestra came to Los Angeles to play thePalomar Ballroom. WhenJohn Hammond brought Goodman to see Hampton perform, Goodman invited him to join his trio, which soon became the Benny Goodman Quartet with pianistTeddy Wilson and drummerGene Krupa completing the lineup. The Trio and Quartet were among the first racially integrated jazz groups to perform before audiences,[15][17] and were a leading small group of the day.
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While Hampton worked for Goodman in New York, he recorded with several different small groups known as the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, as well as assorted small groups within the Goodman band. In 1940 Hampton left the Goodman organization under amicable circumstances to form his ownbig band.[16]
Hampton's orchestra developed a high profile during the 1940s and early 1950s. His third recording with them in 1942 produced the version of "Flying Home", featuring a solo byIllinois Jacquet that anticipatedrhythm & blues. Although Hampton first recorded "Flying Home" under his own name with a small group in 1940 for Victor, the best known version is the big band version recorded for Decca on May 26, 1942,[18] in a new arrangement by Hampton's pianistMilt Buckner.[19] The 78 RPM disc became successful enough for Hampton to record "Flyin' Home #2" in 1944, this time a feature forArnett Cobb. The song went on to become the theme song for all three men.
GuitaristBilly Mackel first joined Hampton in 1944, and would perform and record with him almost continuously through to the late 1970s.[20] In 1947, Hamp performed "Stardust" at a "Just Jazz" concert for producerGene Norman, also featuringCharlie Shavers andSlam Stewart; the recording was issued by Decca. Later, Norman's GNP Crescendo label issued the remaining tracks from the concert.
Hampton was a featured artist at numerousCavalcade of Jazz concerts held atWrigley Field in Los Angeles and produced byLeon Hefflin Sr.[21] His first performance was at the second Cavalcade of Jazz concert held on October 12, 1946, and also featuredJack McVea,Slim Gaillard,T-Bone Walker, theHoneydrippers andLouis Armstrong.
The fifth Cavalcade of Jazz concert was held in two locations,Wrigley Field in Los Angeles andLane Field in San Diego, July 10, 1949, and September 3, 1949, respectively.Betty Carter,Jimmy Witherspoon,Buddy Banks, Smiley Turner andBig Jay McNeely also played with Hampton.
It was at the sixth Cavalcade of Jazz, June 25, 1950, that Hampton's playing precipitated the closest thing to a riot in the show's eventful history. Lionel and his band paraded around the ball park's infield playing ‘Flying High’.[22] The huge crowd, around 14,000, went berserk, tossed cushions, coats, hats, programs, and just about anything else they could lay hands on and swarmed on the field.[23]Dinah Washington,Roy Milton,PeeWee Crayton, Lillie Greenwood,Tiny Davis and Her Hell Divers[24] were also featured.
His final Cavalcade of Jazz concert held on July 24, 1955 (Eleventh) also featuredBig Jay McNeely, The Medallions,The Penguins andJames Moody and his Orchestra.[25]
From the mid-1940s until the early 1950s, Hampton led a lively rhythm & blues band whoseDecca Records recordings included numerous young performers who later had significant careers. They included bassistCharles Mingus, saxophonistJohnny Griffin, guitaristWes Montgomery, vocalistDinah Washington, and vocal stylist "Little" Jimmy Scott. Other noteworthy band members were trumpetersDizzy Gillespie,Cat Anderson,Kenny Dorham, andSnooky Young, trombonistJimmy Cleveland, and saxophonistsJerome Richardson andCurtis Lowe.[26]
The Hampton orchestra that toured Europe in 1953 includedClifford Brown,Gigi Gryce,Anthony Ortega,Monk Montgomery,George Wallington,Art Farmer,Quincy Jones, and singerAnnie Ross. Hampton continued to record with small groups and jam sessions during the 1940s and 1950s, withOscar Peterson,Buddy DeFranco, and others. In 1955, while in California working onThe Benny Goodman Story he recorded withStan Getz and made two albums withArt Tatum forNorman Granz as well as with his own big band.
Hampton performed with Louis Armstrong and Italian singerLara Saint Paul at the 1968Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. The performance created a sensation with Italian audiences, as it broke into a real jazz session.[27] That same year, Hampton received a Papal Medal fromPope Paul VI.
During the 1960s, Hampton's groups were in decline; he was still performing what had succeeded for him earlier in his career. He did not fare much better in the 1970s, though he recorded actively for hisWho's Who in Jazz record label, which he founded in 1977/1978.[16][28]
Beginning in February 1984, Hampton and his band played at theUniversity of Idaho's annual jazz festival, which was renamed theLionel Hampton Jazz Festival the following year.[29] In 1987, the UI'sschool of music was renamed for Hampton, the first university music school named for a jazz musician.[30][31]
During much of the 1980s, some notable sidemen in Hampton's orchestra includedThomas Chapin,Paul Jeffrey,Frankie Dunlop,Arvell Shaw,John Colianni,Oliver Jackson andGeorge Duvivier. Hampton remained active until a stroke in Paris in 1991 led to a collapse on stage. That incident, combined with years of chronicarthritis, forced him to cut back drastically on performances. However, he did play at theSmithsonian National Museum of American History in 2001 shortly before his death.[8][16][32] On April 15, 2002, the United States Congress celebrated Hampton's life and "resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the Congress, on behalf of the American people, extends its birthday greetings and best wishes to Lionel Hampton on the occasion of his 94th birthday."[33]
Hampton died at age 94 fromcongestive heart failure atMount Sinai Hospital in New York City on August 31, 2002.[30][34] His funeral was held a week later on September 7 and featured a performance byWynton Marsalis and David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band atRiverside Church inManhattan; the Saturday procession began atThe Cotton Club inHarlem.[35][34][36] Speakers at his funeral included U.S. representativesCharles Rangel andJohn Conyers and former presidentGeorge H. W. Bush; Hampton was interred atWoodlawn Cemetery inThe Bronx.[37][38]
On November 11, 1936, inYuma, Arizona, Lionel Hampton married Gladys Riddle (1913–1971).[39] Gladys was Lionel's business manager throughout much of his career. Many musicians recall that Lionel ran the music and Gladys ran the business.
Around 1945 or 1946, he handed a pair of vibraphone mallets to then-five year old (later jazz musician)Roy Ayers.
During the 1950s he had a strong interest inJudaism and raised money forIsrael. In 1953 he composed aKing Davidsuite and performed it in Israel with theBoston Pops Orchestra. Later in life Hampton became aChristian Scientist.[8] Hampton was also a Thirty-third degreePrince Hallfreemason.[40]
In January 1997, his apartment caught fire and destroyed his awards and belongings; Hampton escaped uninjured.[41]
Hampton was deeply involved in the construction of variouspublic housing projects, and founded the Lionel Hampton Development Corporation. Construction began with the Lionel Hampton Houses inHarlem, New York, in the 1960s, with the help of thenRepublican governorNelson Rockefeller. Hampton's wife, Gladys Hampton, also was involved in construction of a housing project in her name, the Gladys Hampton Houses. Gladys died in 1971. In the 1980s, Hampton built another housing project called Hampton Hills inNewark, New Jersey.
Hampton was a staunchRepublican and served as a delegate to severalRepublican National Conventions.[42] He served as vice-chairman of the New York Republican County Committee for some years[43] and also was a member of the New York City Human Rights Commission.[8] He served as Director of Special Events forGerald Ford's 1976 re-election campaign.[44] Hampton donated almost $300,000 to Republican campaigns and committees throughout his lifetime.[45] However, in 1996 he endorsed Clinton/Gore, saying that the Republican party, which he had joined because it was the party of Lincoln, no longer represented moderates like himself.[46]
| Year | Album | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937–39 | Benny Goodman –The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings [3CD] | along withTeddy Wilson andGene Krupa, appearing as a sideman forBenny Goodman | RCA/BMG 68764 |
| 1937–39 | Hot Mallets, Vol. 1 | the All-Star groups including appearances byCootie Williams,Johnny Hodges,Harry James,Benny Carter,Chu Berry,Ziggy Elman,Dizzy Gillespie,Coleman Hawkins,Ben Webster,Charlie Christian | Bluebird RCA 6458-2-RB |
| 1937–39 | The Jumpin' Jive, Vol. 2 | the All-Star groups including appearances by Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Chu Berry, Ziggy Elman, Dizzy Gillespie | Bluebird RCA 2433-2-RB |
| 1938 | Benny Goodman –The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert [2LP] | along with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa, appearing as a sideman for Benny Goodman | Columbia SL-160 |
| 1939–40 | Tempo And Swing, Vol. 3 | the All-Star groups including appearances by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster,Nat "King" Cole,Oscar Moore,Helen Forrest | Bluebird RCA 66039-2 |
| 1945 | All American Award Concert | recorded April 15, 1945, atCarnegie Hall | Decca DL-8088 (12" LP) |
| 1947 | Gene Norman Presents Just Jazz (AKAThe "Original" Star Dust) | the famous "Just Jazz" jam session; recorded August 4, 1947, at the Civic Auditorium, Pasadena CA | Decca DL-7013 (10" LP); DL-9055 (12" LP); DL-74194 |
| 1947 | Lionel Hampton With The Just Jazz All Stars | second volume of the previous set; withCharlie Shavers,Willie Smith, Corky Corcoran,Milt Buckner,Slam Stewart, Jackie Mills,Lee Young | GNP Crescendo GNP-15 (12" LP)/various Vogue 78s/London Records (1972 transfer) |
| 1947 | Hamp's Boogie Woogie | a 4-disc collection of 78rpm recordings: #23836, #23837, #23838, #23839, includes 6 tracks by Hampton & His Orchestra, plus 1 track by His Septet, and 1 track by His Quartet | Decca A-523; DL-5230 (10" LP) |
| 1948 | New Movements In Be-Bop | a 4-disc collection of 78rpm recordings: #24428, #24429, #24430, #24431, includes 4 tracks by Hampton & His Orchestra, and 4 tracks by Hampton & His Sextet | Decca A-661; DL-5222 (10" LP) |
| 1951 | Moonglow | a 4-disc collection of 78rpm recordings: #27372, #27373, #27374, #27375, includes 8 tracks by Hampton & His Sextet; the 12" LP contains 3 extra tracks | Decca A-804; DL-5297 (10" LP); DL-8230 (12" LP) |
| 1953 | Lionel Hampton's Paris All Stars (AKAJazz Time Paris) | a CD compilation of Vogue LD-166, LD-167, LD-168 (all 10" LPs); all material recorded September 28, 1953 | RCA/BMG 51150 |
| 1953 | Hamp In Paris | recorded November 30, 1953; withMilton "Mezz" Mezzrow | EmArcy MG-26037 (10" LP); MG-36032 (12" LP) |
| 1953 | Crazy Hamp | second volume of the previous set; both 10" LPs (8 tracks worth) reissued on the 12" LP | EmArcy MG-26038 (10" LP); MG-36032 (12" LP) |
| 1954 | Apollo Hall Concert 1954 | first released in Netherlands, 1954; first US release: 1955 | Epic LN 3190 (12" LP) |
| 1954 | The Lionel Hampton Quintet | withBuddy DeFranco,Oscar Peterson,Ray Brown,Buddy Rich; includes a 17-minute jam on "Flyin' Home". ––––– NOTE: there is also a 5-CD box set [731455979725] of the completeVerve recordings of Hampton's quartets and quintets with Peterson, as well as a number of other single-disc compilations. | Clef MGC-628; Verve |
| 1955 | Crazy Rhythm | recorded March 18, 1955 | EmArcy MG-36034 |
| 1955 | Jam Session In Paris | second volume of the previous set | EmArcy MG-36035 |
| 1955 | Hamp and Getz | withStan Getz,Lou Levy,Leroy Vinnegar,Shelly Manne | Norgran MGN-1037; Verve |
| 1955 | Oh Rock! | contains 12 of the 21 tracks that Hampton & His Orchestra recorded for the MGM label in 1951. | MGM E-285 (10" LP); E-3386 (12" LP) |
| 1956 | Wailin' At The Trianon | Columbia CL-711 | |
| 1957 | Jazz Flamenco | recorded June 30, 1956, in Madrid, Spain; with Maria Angelica on castanets | RCA Victor LPM-1422 |
| 1958 | Lionel ... Plays Drums, Vibes, Piano | Audio Fidelity AFSD-5849; Avid | |
| 1958 | The High & The Mighty | Supervised byNorman Granz | Columbia 33CX10146[48] |
| 1959 | Hamp's Big Band | Audio Fidelity AFSD-5913; Avid | |
| 1959 | Golden Vibes | with "Reeds And Rhythm" (a reed quintet + rhythm section) | Columbia CL-1304/CS-8110; Collectables |
| 1960 | Silver Vibes | with "Trombones And Rhythm" (a trombone quartet + rhythm section) | Columbia CL-1486/CS-8277; Collectables |
| 1961 | Soft Vibes, Soaring Strings | Columbia CL-1661/CS-8461 | |
| 1962 | Many Splendored Vibes | Epic BA-16027 | |
| 1963 | The Great Hamp And Little T – Lionel Hampton & Charlie Teagarden In Person | recorded live at The Silver Slipper, Las Vegas | Coral CRL-757438 |
| 1964 | Benny Goodman Quartet –Together Again! | the reunion with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa | RCA Victor LPM-2698 |
| 1964 | You Better Know It!!! | withClark Terry,Ben Webster,Hank Jones,Milt Hinton,Osie Johnson | Impulse! AS-78;GRP/Impulse! GRD-140 |
| 1972 | Them Changes | Brunswick BL-754182; Versatile NED-1128 | |
| 1973 | Please Sunrise | Brunswick BL-754190 | |
| 1973 | There It Is! | Brunswick BL-754198 | |
| 1974 | Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy! | Brunswick BL-754203 | |
| 1974 | Transition | withBuddy Rich,Zoot Sims, Teddy Wilson,George Duvivier | Groove Merchant GM-3302 |
| 1975 | The Works! [2LP] | Groove Merchant GM-4400 | |
| 1976 | Off Into A Black Thing | Brunswick BL-754213 | |
| 1977 | Lionel Hampton And His Jazz Giants 77 | withCat Anderson,Eddie Chamblee,Milt Buckner,Billy Mackel | Black & Blue 33.107; BB-870 |
| 1977 | Lionel Hampton And His Jazz Giants, Vol. 2 | second volume of the previous set; 11 tracks from these sessions are reissued on the CD | Black & Blue 33.130; BB-870 |
| 1977 | Lionel Hampton Presents: The Music of Charles Mingus | a tentet session of mostly Mingus compositions, numerous ballads; Hampton andGerry Mulligan are the major soloists with Mingus playing bass. | Who's Who In Jazz WWLP-21005 |
| 1978 | Alive & Jumping | with Milt Buckner | MPS 15469 |
| 1978 | Live At The Muzeval 1978 (AKALive In Emmen/Holland) | Timeless SJP-120 | |
| 1979 | Good Vibes | recorded 1973; produced bySonny Lester | 51 West/CBS Q-16074 |
| 1984 | L.A. is my lady (Frank Sinatra's last studio album, with Quincy Jones Orchestra) | As one of the most remarcable sideman in the recording sessions, including the Brecker brothers, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, George Benson and many others. | |
| 1986 | Sentimental Journey | reissue of Glad-Hamp GHS-1025 | Atlantic 81644 |
| 1988 | Mostly Blues | Musicmasters 5011 | |
| 1990 | Mostly Ballads | Musicmasters 5044 | |
| 1991 | Live At The Blue Note (with "The Golden Men of Jazz") | jamming with old friends including trumpeters Clark Terry andHarry "Sweets" Edison, trombonistAl Grey, tenorsJames Moody andBuddy Tate, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton, drummerGrady Tate. | Telarc 83308 |
| 1992 | Just Jazz – Live At The Blue Note | second volume of the previous set; again with "The Golden Men of Jazz" | Telarc 83313 |
| 1995 | For The Love Of Music | featuringNorman Brown,Ron Carter,Roy Haynes,Chaka Khan,Tito Puente,Joshua Redman,Dianne Reeves,Wallace Roney,Patrice Rushen,Grover Washington Jr.,Stevie Wonder | MoJazz/Motown 530554 |
| 1998 (released 2001) | Live at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre [2CD] | withErnie Andrews,Gerald Wiggins Trio, Harry "Sweets" Edison,Teddy Edwards | Phillip PR-1530 |
| Year | Album | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937–40 | Swing Classics – Lionel Hampton and His Jazz Groups | Recordings from 1937 to 1940; issued 1961 | RCA Victor LPM-2318 |
| 1939–40 + 56 | Greatest Hits – Lionel Hampton | Selections from various RCA Victor recordings | RCA/BMG 68496 |
| 1937–41 | The Complete Lionel Hampton Victor Sessions 1937–1941 [5CD][49] | All of Hampton's RCA Victor recordings | Mosaic MD5-238 |
| 1942–50 | Hamp's Golden Favorites – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Recordings from 1942 to 1950; issued 1962; reissued 1980 | Decca DL-4296; MCA 204 |
| 1942–50 | The Best Of Lionel Hampton [2LP] | Recordings from 1942 to 1950; issued 1975 | MCA 2-4075 |
| 1942–44 | Steppin' Out – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Recordings from 1942 to 1944; issued 1969; reissued 1980 | Jazz Heritage Series; Decca DL-79244; MCA 1315 |
| 1945–46 | Slide Hamp Slide – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Recordings from 1945 to 1946; issued 1980 | Jazz Heritage Series; MCA 1323 |
| 1945–50 | Sweatin' With Hamp – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Recordings from 1945 to 1950; issued 1980 | Jazz Heritage Series; MCA 1331 |
| 1946–49 | Rarities – Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Recordings from 1946 to 1949; issued 1982 | Jazz Heritage Series; MCA 1351 |
| 1942–63 | Hamp – The Legendary Decca Recordings Of Lionel Hampton [2CD] | Selections from various Decca recordings | GRP/Decca Jazz GRD2-652 |
| 1937–49 | The Lionel Hampton Story [4CD] | Selections from various RCA Victor and Decca recordings + AFRS and V-Disc | Proper BOX12 |
note: every recording by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra is included in this 12 volume series from the CLASSICS reissue label
WithFrank Sinatra
Hampton appeared as himself in the films listed below.
| Year | Movie | Director | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Girl Without A Room | Ralph Murphy | Comedy |
| 1936 | Pennies From Heaven | Norman Z. McLeod | Comedy/Musical |
| 1937 | Hollywood Hotel | Busby Berkeley | Musical/Romance |
| 1938 | For Auld Lang Syne | ? | Documentary |
| 1948 | A Song Is Born | Howard Hawks | Comedy/Musical |
| 1949 | Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | Will Cowan | Music |
| 1955 | Music, Music and Only Music | Ernst Matray | Comedy |
| 1955 | The Benny Goodman Story | Valentine Davies | Drama |
| 1957 | Mister Rock and Roll | Charles S. Dubin | Drama/Musical |
| 1978 | No Maps on My Taps | George T. Nierenberg | Documentary |
| 1980 | But Then She's Betty Carter | Michelle Parkerson | Documentary |
Lionel Hampton, whose flamboyant mastery of the vibraphone made him one of the leading figures of the swing era, died yesterday morning at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 94. ...
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