Lionel Hampton

Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader. He worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. In 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996.

Biography Early life Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and was raised by his mother. Shortly after he was born, he and his mother moved to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. He spent his early childhood in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before he and his family moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1916. As a youth, Hampton was a member of the Bud Billiken Club, an alternative to the Boy Scouts of America, which was off-limits because of racial segregation.

During the 1920s, while still a teenager, Hampton took xylophone lessons from Jimmy Bertrand and began to play drums. Hampton was raised Catholic and started out playing fife and drum at the Holy Rosary Academy near Chicago.

Early career Hampton began his career playing drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboys' Band (led by Major 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.

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 by Paul Howard, then left for Culver City and drummed for the Les 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.

During this period, he began practicing on the vibraphone. In 1930 Louis 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. So began his career as a vibraphonist, popularizing the use of the instrument in the process.

While working with the Les Hite band, Hampton also occasionally did some performing with Nat Shilkret and his orchestra. During the early 1930s, he studied music at the University of Southern California. In 1934 he led his own orchestra, and then appeared in the Bing Crosby film Pennies From Heaven (1936) alongside Louis Armstrong (wearing a mask in a scene while playing drums).

With Benny Goodman 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. source=Lionel Hampton on Benny Goodman and were a leading small group of the day.

Lionel Hampton Orchestra Lionel Hampton at the Aquarium, New York, c. June 1946 (photograph: William Gottlieb) 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 own big band.

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 by Illinois Jacquet that anticipated rhythm & 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, in a new arrangement by Hampton's pianist Milt Buckner. The 78 rpm disc became successful enough for Hampton to record "Flyin' Home #2" in 1944, this time a feature for Arnett Cobb. The song went on to become the theme song for all three men.

Guitarist Billy Mackel first joined Hampton in 1944, and would perform and record with him almost continuously through to the late 1970s. In 1947, Hampton performed "Stardust" at a "Just Jazz" concert for producer Gene Norman, also featuring Charlie Shavers and Slam 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 numerous Cavalcade of Jazz concerts held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles and produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. His first performance was at the second Cavalcade of Jazz concert held on October 12, 1946, and also featured Jack McVea, Slim Gaillard, T-Bone Walker, the Honeydrippers, and Louis Armstrong.

The fifth Cavalcade of Jazz concert was held in two locations, Wrigley Field in Los Angeles and Lane Field in San Diego on July 10, 1949 and September 3, 1949, respectively. Betty Carter, Jimmy Witherspoon, Buddy Banks, Smiley Turner, and Big Jay McNeely also played with Hampton.

It was at the sixth Cavalcade of Jazz on 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’. The huge crowd, around 14,000, went berserk, tossing cushions, coats, hats, programs, and just about anything else they could lay hands on and swarmed on the field. Dinah Washington, Roy Milton, PeeWee Crayton, Lillie Greenwood, and Tiny Davis and Her Hell Divers were also featured.

Hampton's eleventh and final Cavalcade of Jazz concert held on July 24, 1955 also featured Big Jay McNeely, The Medallions, The Penguins, and James Moody and his Orchestra.

From the mid-1940s until the early 1950s, Hampton led a lively rhythm & blues band whose Decca Records recordings included numerous young performers who later had significant careers. They included bassist Charles Mingus, saxophonist Johnny Griffin, guitarist Wes Montgomery, vocalist Dinah Washington, and vocal stylist "Little" Jimmy Scott. Other noteworthy band members were trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Cat Anderson, Kenny Dorham, and Snooky Young, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, and saxophonists Jerome Richardson and Curtis Lowe.

The Hampton orchestra that toured Europe in 1953 included Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega, Monk Montgomery, George Wallington, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, and singer Annie Ross. Hampton continued to record with small groups and jam sessions during the 1940s and 1950s, with Oscar Peterson, Buddy DeFranco, and others. In 1955, while in California working on The Benny Goodman Story he recorded with Stan Getz and made two albums with Art Tatum for Norman Granz as well as with his own big band.

Hampton performed with Louis Armstrong and Italian singer Lara Saint Paul at the 1968 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. The performance created a sensation with Italian audiences, as it broke into a real jazz session. That same year, Hampton received a Papal Medal from Pope Paul VI.

Later career

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 his Who's Who in Jazz record label, which he founded in 1977-78.

Beginning in February 1984, Hampton and his band played at the University of Idaho's annual jazz festival, which was renamed the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival the following year. In 1987, the UI's school of music was renamed for Hampton, the first university music school named for a jazz musician.

During much of the 1980s, some notable sidemen in Hampton's orchestra included Thomas Chapin, Paul Jeffrey, Frankie Dunlop, Arvell Shaw, John Colianni, Oliver Jackson and George Duvivier. Hampton remained active until a stroke in Paris in 1991 led to a collapse on stage. That incident, combined with years of chronic arthritis, forced him to cut back drastically on performances. However, he did play at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2001 shortly before his death. 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."

Hampton died at age 94 from congestive heart failure at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on August 31, 2002. His funeral was held a week later on September 7 and featured a performance by Wynton Marsalis and David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band at Riverside Church in Manhattan; the Saturday procession began at The Cotton Club in Harlem. Speakers at his funeral included U.S. representatives Charles Rangel and John Conyers and former president George H. W. Bush; Hampton was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.

Personal life

On November 11, 1936, in Yuma, Arizona, Lionel Hampton married Gladys Riddle (1913–1971). 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 in Judaism and raised money for Israel. In 1953 he composed a King David suite and performed it in Israel with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Later in life Hampton became a Christian Scientist.

In January 1997, his apartment caught fire and destroyed his awards and belongings; Hampton escaped uninjured.

Charity Hampton was deeply involved in the construction of various public housing projects, and he founded the Lionel Hampton Development Corporation. Construction began with the Lionel Hampton Houses in Harlem, New York, in the 1960s, with the help of Republican governor Nelson Rockefeller. His wife was also 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 in Newark, New Jersey.

Hampton was a staunch Republican and served as a delegate to several Republican National Conventions. He served as vice-chairman of the New York Republican County Committee for some years and also was a member of the New York City Human Rights Commission. Hampton donated almost $300,000 to Republican campaigns and committees throughout his lifetime. However, in 1996 he endorsed Bill Clinton and Al Gore, saying that the Republican party, which he had joined because it was the party of Lincoln, no longer represented moderates like himself.

Awards President George W. Bush honors Lionel Hampton during a ceremony recognizing Black Music Month in the White House in 2001. 2021 – Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous) 2001 – Harlem Jazz and Music Festival's Legend Award 1996 – International Jazz Hall of Fame Induction and Award (performed "Flying Home" with Illinois Jacquet and the Count Basie Orchestra) 1996 – National Medal of Arts presented by President Bill Clinton 1995 – Honorary Commissioner of Civil Rights by George Pataki 1995 – Honorary Doctorate from the New England Conservatory of Music 1993 – Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 1992 – Inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1992 – "Contributions To The Cultural Life of the Nation" award from John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 1988 – The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship 1988 – The National Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame Award 1987 – Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Idaho – UI's School of Music was renamed Lionel Hampton School of Music 1987 – The Roy Wilkins Memorial Award from the NAACP 1986 – The "One of a Kind" Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. 1984 – Jazz Hall of Fame Award from the Institute of Jazz Studies 1984 – Honorary Doctorate of Music from USC 1983 – The International Film and Television Festival of New York City Award 1983 – Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of New York 1982 – Hollywood Walk of Fame Star 1981 – Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Glassboro State College 1981 – News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Direction. 1979 – Honorary Doctorate of Music from Howard University 1978 – Bronze Medallion from New York City 1976 – Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Daniel Hale Williams University 1975 – Honorary Doctorate of Music from Xavier University of Louisiana 1974 – Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Pepperdine University 1968 – Papal Medal from Pope Paul VI 1966 – Handel Medallion 1957 – American Goodwill Ambassador by President Dwight D. Eisenhower 1954 – Israel's Statehood Award

Discography

Compilations and original issues Year recorded Album title Label Year released Notes 1938 Benny Goodman – The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert Columbia SL-160 1950 [2LP] Live with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa, appearing as a sideman for Benny Goodman 1937–1939 Benny Goodman – The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings RCA/BMG 68764 1997 [3CD] Along with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa, appearing as a sideman for Benny Goodman 1937–1939 Hot Mallets, Vol. 1 Bluebird RCA 6458-2-RB 1987 The All-Star groups including appearances by Cootie Williams, Johnny Hodges, Harry James, Benny Carter, Chu Berry, Ziggy Elman, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Charlie Christian 1937–1939 The Jumpin' Jive, Vol. 2 Bluebird RCA 2433-2-RB 1990 The All-Star groups including appearances by Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Chu Berry, Ziggy Elman, Dizzy Gillespie 1939–1940 Tempo And Swing, Vol. 3 Bluebird RCA 66039-2 1992 The All-Star groups including appearances by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Nat "King" Cole, Oscar Moore, Helen Forrest 1945 All American Award Concert Decca DL-8088 1955 [12" LP] Recorded at Carnegie Hall 1947 Gene Norman Presents Just Jazz (AKA The "Original" Star Dust) Decca DL-7013 [10" LP]; DL-9055 [12" LP]; DL-74194 1958 The famous "Just Jazz" jam session; recorded at the Civic Auditorium, Pasadena CA 1947 Lionel Hampton with the Just Jazz All Stars GNP Crescendo GNP-15 [12" LP]/various Vogue 78s/London (1972 transfer) 1955 With Charlie Shavers, Willie Smith, Corky Corcoran, Milt Buckner, Slam Stewart, Jackie Mills, Lee Young 1947 Hamp's Boogie Woogie Decca A-523; DL-5230 [10" LP] 1947 A 4-disc collection of 78 rpm recordings: #23836, #23837, #23838, #23839, includes 6 tracks by Hampton & His Orchestra, plus 1 track by His Septet, and 1 track by His Quartet 1947 New Movements In Be-Bop Decca A-661; DL-5222 [10" LP] 1948 A 4-disc collection of 78 rpm recordings: #24428, #24429, #24430, #24431, includes 4 tracks by Hampton & His Orchestra, and 4 tracks by Hampton & His Sextet 1951 Moonglow Decca A-804; DL-5297 [10" LP]; DL-8230 [12" LP] 1951 A 4-disc collection of 78 rpm recordings: #27372, #27373, #27374, #27375, includes 8 tracks by Hampton & His Sextet; the 12-inch LP contains 3 extra tracks 1953 Lionel Hampton's Paris All Stars (AKA Jazz Time Paris) RCA/BMG 51150 1997 [CD] Compilation of Vogue LD-166, LD-167, LD-168 (all 10" LPs) 1953 Hamp In Paris EmArcy MG-26037 [10" LP]; MG-36032 [12" LP] 1955 With Milton "Mezz" Mezzrow 1953 Crazy Hamp EmArcy MG-26038 [10" LP]; MG-36032 [12" LP] 1954 The second volume of the previous set; both 10" LPs (8 tracks worth) reissued on the 12-inch LP 1954 Apollo Hall Concert 1954 Philips B 10157, Epic LN 3190 1954 [12" LP] 1954 The Lionel Hampton Quintet Clef MGC-628; Verve 1954 With Buddy DeFranco, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich; includes a 17-minute jam on "Flyin' Home". ––––– NOTE: there is also a 5-CD box set of the complete Verve recordings of Hampton's quartets and quintets with Peterson, as well as a number of other single-disc compilations. 1954 Wailin' at the Trianon Columbia CL-711 1955 1955 Crazy Rhythm EmArcy MG-36034 1955 1955 Jam Session In Paris EmArcy MG-36035 1955 The second volume of the previous set 1955 Hamp and Getz Norgran MGN-1037; Verve 1955 With Stan Getz, Lou Levy, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne 1955 The Lionel Hampton Art Tatum Buddy Rich Trio Clef Records 1956 With Art Tatum, Buddy Rich 1951, 1955 Oh Rock! MGM E-285 (10-inch LP); E-3386 (12-inch LP) 1955 Contains 12 of the 21 tracks that Hampton & His Orchestra recorded for the MGM label in 1951. 1956 Jazz Flamenco RCA Victor LPM-1422 1957 Recorded in Madrid, Spain; with Maria Angelica on castanets 1958? The High & The Mighty Verve MGV-8228 1958 Supervised by Norman Granz 1958? Lionel ... Plays Drums, Vibes, Piano Audio Fidelity AFSD-5849; Avid 1958 1959? Hamp's Big Band Audio Fidelity AFSD-5913; Avid 1959 1959? Golden Vibes Columbia CL-1304/CS-8110; Collectables 1959 With "Reeds And Rhythm" (a reed quintet + rhythm section) 1960 Silver Vibes Columbia CL-1486/CS-8277; Collectables 1960 With "Trombones And Rhythm" (a trombone quartet + rhythm section) 1961? Soft Vibes, Soaring Strings Columbia CL-1661/CS-8461 1961 1962? Many Splendored Vibes Epic BA-16027 1962 1963? The Great Hamp and Little T – Lionel Hampton & Charlie Teagarden In Person Coral CRL-757438 1963 Co-led with Charlie Teagarden. Live at The Silver Slipper, Las Vegas 1963? Benny Goodman Quartet, Together Again! RCA Victor LPM-2698 1963 The reunion with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa 1964 You Better Know It!!! Impulse! AS-78; GRP/Impulse! GRD-140 1964 With Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Osie Johnson 1970? Them Changes Brunswick BL-754182; Versatile NED-1128 1972 1972? Please Sunrise Brunswick BL-754190 1973 1973? There It Is! Brunswick BL-754198 1973 1974? Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy! Brunswick BL-754203 1974 1974 Transition Groove Merchant GM-3302 1974 Co-led with Buddy Rich, with Zoot Sims, Teddy Wilson, George Duvivier 1975 The Works! Groove Merchant GM-4400 1975 [2LP] Live 1976? Off Into A Black Thing Brunswick BL-754213 1976 1977 Lionel Hampton and His Jazz Giants 77 Black & Blue 33.107; BB-870 1977 With Cat Anderson, Eddie Chamblee, Milt Buckner, Billy Mackel 1977 Lionel Hampton and His Jazz Giants, Vol. 2 Black & Blue 33.130; BB-870 1977 The second volume of the previous set; 11 tracks from these sessions are reissued on the CD 1977 Alive & Jumping MPS 15469 1978 With Milt Buckner 1977 Lionel Hampton Presents: The Music of Charles Mingus Who's Who In Jazz WWLP-21005 1977 A tentet session of mostly Mingus compositions, numerous ballads; Hampton and Gerry Mulligan are the major soloists with Mingus playing bass. 1978 Live in Emmen/Holland (AKA Live at The Muzeval 1978) Timeless SJP-120 1978 Live in Emmen, Netherlands 1973 Good Vibes 51 West/CBS Q-16074 1979 Produced by Sonny Lester 1984 Frank Sinatra, L.A. Is My Lady Qwest, Warner Bros. 1984 As one of the most remarcable sideman in the recording sessions, including the Brecker brothers, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, George Benson and many others. 1985 Sentimental Journey Atlantic 81644 1986 Reissue of Glad-Hamp GHS-1025 1988 Mostly Blues Musicmasters 5011 1989 1990 Mostly Ballads Musicmasters 5044 1990 1991 Live At The Blue Note (with "The Golden Men of Jazz") Telarc 83308 1991 Live. Jamming with old friends including trumpeters Clark Terry and Harry "Sweets" Edison, trombonist Al Grey, tenors James Moody and Buddy Tate, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Grady Tate. 1991 Just Jazz – Live At The Blue Note Telarc 83313 1992 Live. The second volume of the previous set; again with "The Golden Men of Jazz". 1995 For the Love of Music MoJazz/Motown 530554 1995 Featuring Norman Brown, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, Chaka Khan, Tito Puente, Joshua Redman, Dianne Reeves, Wallace Roney, Patrice Rushen, Grover Washington Jr., Stevie Wonder 1998 Live at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre Phillip PR-1530 2002 [2CD] Live with Ernie Andrews, Gerald Wiggins Trio, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Teddy Edwards

Other compilations

The Chronological ... Classics series note: every recording by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra is included in this 12 volume series from the CLASSICS reissue label The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1937–1938 (#524) – RCA Victor recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1938–1939 (#534) – RCA Victor recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1939–1940 (#562) – RCA Victor recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1940–1941 (#624) – RCA Victor recordings; first Decca session The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1942–1944 (#803) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1945–1946 (#922) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1946 (#946) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1947 (#994) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1949–1950 (#1161) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1950 (#1193) – Decca recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1950–1951 (#1262) – last two Decca sessions; MGM recordings The Chronological Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra 1951–1953 (#1429) – includes Hamp's first Norman Granz-produced quartet session (September 2, 1953) with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and Buddy Rich.

Glad-Hamp Records GHLP-1001 (1961) The Many Sides Of Hamp GHLP-3050 (1962) All That Twist'n Jazz GHLP-1003 (1962) The Exciting Hamp In Europe GHLP-1004 (1963) Bossa Nova Jazz GHLP-1005 (1963) Recorded Live On Tour GHLP-1006 (1964) Hamp In Japan/Live GHLP-1007 (1965) East Meets West (Introducing Miyoko Hoshino) GHLP-1009 (1965) A Taste Of Hamp GHS-1011 (1967) Hamp Stamps [includes "Greasy Greens"] GHS-1012 (1966) Hamp's Portrait Of A Woman GHS-1020 (1979) Hamp's Big Band Live! GHS-1021 (1980) Chameleon GHS-1022 (1982) Outrageous GHS-1023 (1983) Live In Japan GHS-1024 (1984) Ambassador At Large GHS-1025 (1985) Sentimental Journey (Featuring Sylvia Bennett) GHS-1026 (1988) One Of A Kind GHS-1027 (1987) Midnight Blues – with Dexter Gordon GHCD-1028 (1990) Cookin' In The Kitchen

As sideman With Frank Sinatra L.A. Is My Lady (Qwest, 1984)

Filmography 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