Starting in the 1930's on
the vibraphone as a contemporary of Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman,
and staying active into the 90's, Lionel Hampton built one of the towering
careers in jazz music. A multi-instrumentalist, Hampton also enjoyed
unmatched popularity as a bandleader, showman, and social activist.
As a musician his greatest impact was on the vibraphone, becoming the first
great jazz improviser on the instrument. Over the years his big band
featured some of the best-known singers and musicians in jazz history,
and it became one the longest running and commercially successful institutions
in jazz. He also recorded extensively in many all-star small group
projects as both sideman and leader. Hampton became one of America's
most beloved musical figures. His astonishing longevity and extroverted
personality made him a favorite of everyone from ordinary music fans to
World Leaders.
Lionel "Hamp" Hampton was
born April 20th in Louisville, Kentucky, but was soon sent to live with
his grandparents in Chicago. They sent him to Holy Rosary Academy
in Wisconsin, where he had his first musical exposure, learning drumming
in the school band. By his early teen's Hampton had gone to live
with his Uncle Richard Morgan, a bootlegger with connections to show business.
Morgan encouraged his nephew's desire for a musical career and even purchased
Lionel's first drum kit, which was modeled after one played by Jimmie Bertrand
with the Erskine Hawkins Band. Bertrand, a drummer and part time
xylophonist was Hampton?s first musical idol. Hampton began playing
drums for a newsboy's band organized by the Chicago Defender, a leading
black newspaper. By the close of the 1920's he had become a professional
musician, playing in some of the leading Midwest "territory" bands of the
day. His first recording was with Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders
in 1929. In the course of touring with these bands, He found himself
in Los Angeles, where he joined Les Hite's band, which was accompanying
Louis Armstrong at the time. By 1930, Hampton had taught himself
to play the vibraphone. When Armstrong heard him practicing, he asked Hampton
to play behind him on his next recording session. Hampton's work
on Memories of You and Shine was the first recorded jazz improvisation
on vibraphone.
Hampton also began playing
piano and singing, eventually becoming popular enough to leave Hite's band
and form his own big band. In 1936, he was leading a band at the
Paradise Club on Los Angeles's famed Central Avenue, when Benny Goodman,
Gene Krupa, and Teddy Wilson came in to see the show. They joined
the band on stage. Goodman was so impressed by Hampton's vibraphone sound,
that he asked Lionel to join a recording session that was scheduled for
the next day. These recordings by the Goodman Quartet were extremely
successful, and Hampton became a regular, along with Charlie Christian
on electric guitar, on small group records with Goodman. He also
occasionally played with Goodman's big band. While working with Goodman
throughout the remainder of the 30's, he also began to record a series
of classic swing albums with various all-star small groups for RCA Victor.
By the early 40's he longed
to lead a big band again. Encouraged by Goodman and his wife Gladys,
he formed his own band in 1941. This band had a huge hit in 1942
with the R&B flavored tune Fly' in Home, which featured Illinois Jacquet
on tenor saxophone. Hampton's band soon became an institution, with
a musical signature that was R&B based, but Be-bop influenced and a
performing style that was wildly exhibitionist. This would be the
style that Hampton's band retained for the next 50 years. Over
the years this band would employ the likes of Jacquet, Al Grey, Earl Bostic,
Gigi Gryce, Dexter Gordon, Arnett Cobb, Charles Mingus, Clifford Brown,
Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Fats Navarro, Clark Terry and Wes Montgomery.
Hampton had a good ear for singers, which led him to give early breaks
to Dinah Washington, Joe Williams, Annie Ross and Betty Carter. During
the 50's Hampton also became one America's unofficial goodwill ambassadors,
as his band was very popular at international festivals throughout Europe.
Later in the decade, he resumed his small group recordings for Norman Granz.
Granz teamed him Stan Getz, Buddy De Franco, Oscar Petersen, Buddy Rich
and Art Tatum.
In the 60's Lionel Hampton
participated in several re-unions of the original Benny Goodman Quartet,
some which were recorded and televised. He also became involved,
along with Gladys, in Harlem urban renewal. Although Gladys died
in 1971, he legacy was assured with the opening of the Gladys Hampton Homes
in the late 70's. Eventually, projects initiated by the Hampton's
would house 700 low-income families. Throughout, Hampton toured with
his band and various all-star bands, until the early nineties. Despite
the ravages of time, which included arthritis and a brain hemorrhage, Hampton
continued to front his bands, playing, singing and dancing as if time did
not matter. In 1993, a year after his hemorrhage, he played several
U.K. concerts with the Golden Men of Jazz, including Junior Mance, Harry
"Sweets" Edison, Benny Golson, and Al Grey. To underscore Hampton's
place in music history, one of his vibraphones was placed in the National
Museum of Natural History in 2001. On August 31st 2002, Lionel Hampton
succumbed to heart failure, and passed away at the age of 94, leaving behind
one of the great legacies in jazz.
1930-1931
Louis Armstrong and his
Sebastian New Cotton Orchestra
Lionel Hampton, drums and
for
the first time on vibraphone 1930, October 16. Body
And Soul -(From "Three's A Crowd) Memories
Of You -
More
from this sessie
1935
Bennie Goodman, Lionel
Hampton, ?
1936
Lionel Hampton and his wife,
Gladys, were married Nov. 11, 1936.
Gladys served as his personal
manager, and developed a reputation as a brilliant businesswoman.
She was responsible for
raising the money for Lionel to start his own band.
1937
February 8
1937 New York, NY Lionel
Hampton's first recording below his name
Lionel Hampton and his
Orchestra: Lionel Hampton, (vibes,
dr, vo), Ziggy Elman (tp), Hymie Schertzer, George Koenig (as)
Vido Musso, Arthus Rollini
(ts), Jess Stacy (p), Harry Goodman (b), Gene Krupa (dr)
1:
My Last Affair, 2: Jivin' the Blues, 3: The Mood That I'm In, 4: Stomp.
Listen 1 min. to: My
Last Affair - My
Last Affair (take 2) =
1938
Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall
Concert
January, 18 Bennie
Goodman and is orchestra make their Carnegie Hall debut.
With Lionel Hampton, Count
Basie and members from The Basie and Ellington Orchestra.
Click
for more on The Carnegie Hall site -on
1930s.
1938. January 18. Listen
to:Avalon and Stompin' at the Savoy. Click on "Remembering Lionel
Hampton" (under) on the -Warren
Chiasson Website- 1938
audioclip-
1938
Lionel Hampton, Teddy
Wilson, Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa
in 1938 film "Hollywood
Hotel". The Benny Goodman Quartet.
1938:
New April 28.
Hampton, Goodman, Wilson,
Krupa.
The Benny Goodman Quartet
1938
Lionel
Hampton (drums), Marty Marsala (tp), Joe Bushkin (tp),
Artie
Shapiro, Joe Marsala (cl) at the Hickory House, NYC, 1938.
Photo Follow.
1939-1940
Lionel Hampton play in 1939
and 1940 with The Benny Goodman
Sextet and Charlie Christian.
From left: Lionel Hampton,
Artie, Bennie, Nick, Charlie, Johnny.
From left: Henderson, Charlie,
Nick, Hampton, Bernstein, Bennie.
From left: Johnny, Charlie,
Bernstein, Hampton, Fatool, Goodman.
'40
-- Photo signed by Lionel Hampton.
-----------------------------Victor
Promo--------------
' 40
Sammy was Hampton's half
brother.
' 40
or '50
Advertising:
Gladys Hampton
1940
The Fourties
Lionel Hampton, drumsolo
and The Nat King Cole Trio. (Realplayer) May 10.
Jack
the Belleoy
1942
In 1942, when Lionel Hampton
was playing at the Royal Theatre, Roy McCoy,
one of Baltimore's most
respected musicians, was recruited to replace trumpeter
Joe Newman, who had been
drafted into the military. McCoy, standing on the right,
is shown here performing
with Hampton's band.
1943
Trade publication for Lionel
Hampton and his Orchestra, Dinah Washington and Rubel Blakely.
Booked to open at the Capitol,
New York, in January 1943.
Mid
'40
Lionel Hampton and Avedis Zildjian
1944
Hey!-BA-BA-RE-BOB: Piano
Sheet.
The Songtext
HEY!-- BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY!--
BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
HEY!-- BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
Yes,--your ba-by knows,
Ma-til-da Brown-told Old
King Tut,- If you an't say RE-BOP, keep your big mouth
shut, --sing-'in HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
Yes,----your ba-by knows,
Ma-ma's on the chair, Pa-pa's on the cot, Ba-by's in the crib blow-in'
his nat-'ral top. - HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
HEY--BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP,
Yes, ---your ba-by- knows----Up
on the moum-tai, look-in' at the sea, Look-in'for that cat that
stole my ba-by from me,
sing-in' HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP, HEY!-- BA-BA-RE-BOP,
HEY!--BA-BA-RE-BOP, Yes,--your
ba-by knows.
2002:
12.21 min. Lionel Hampton passed away on 2002 August 31, Age 94. My Radio-interview
on 2002, Sept. 2 (Dutch).
"Morgen",
DJ, DJ/Hans Bebop, "Hey! Ba-Ba-Rebop"
Play For
the Dutch People: Artikel en het onvoorbereide interview. De NCRV
belde en 5 min. later zat ik in de uitzending. Click-
Kranten:
Parool 1953. Click-Parool
1956. Click-Volkskrant
1956. Click-
(Newspapers).
Hans Bebop's Sound
(Drums,
Leader).
1956:
12.23 min. Thunderbird. Play-On
Tenorsax ?
1956:
12.51
min. Zonked. Play
- Tenorsax, ? , J.Merthens vibe. Tr. ?, Tenorsax,
Peter Scheerhout.
Mid
'40
Hamp's Boogie Woogie piano
sheet
Listen-to
Hamp's Boogie Woogie with Milt Buchner and Hamp on piano.
'40:
New April 27.
Scrapbook Page: Signed by
CURLY HAMM (drums) & SONNIE PARKER
1948
Original 1948 ad for Swing
and Tempo music, publishers of orchestrations for Lionel Hampton.
1948
Lionel Hampton and the 1948
band.
1949
NEW
24/6
Lionel's favourite basebal.
The Negro Leque.
1950
This is an original 1950
ad for Slingerland Drums, with a photo of Lionel Hampton
1950:
New
2003 April 29
The Lionel Hampton Big Band
play at
"The Votre Music Hall" Paris.
Photo: Avon Mackel Archive.
Mid
'50
1951
September 20, 1951
Ellis Theater - San Francisco Johnny Mathis Vocals - Top
left ........... Merl Saunders Piano - Top 2nd from left
Hank Uribe Drums - Top 3rd
from left ............. Lionel Hampton - Top 4th
from left
Ray Harris Vibes - Top 4th
from right .... Frank Roberts Bass - Top 3rd from right
Bill Hawkens Sax - Top 2nd
from right Roland Mitchell Sax - Bottom 3rd from left
Mel McPherson Sax - Bottom
2nd from right Frank Wood Sax - Bottom right
The Fifties
1951
Quincy Jones arrangement
"Undecided." 1951, December 19.
1953
Front row: Count Basie,
Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Les Paul. Back row: Illinois Jacquet
Tommy Dorsey, Ziggy Elman,
Buddy Rich on drums, bassist unknown. (Photo From Ron Aprea).
1953:
New April 28.
The attached photo appeared
in the magazine Folkparkerna och Estrad. The photo was taken in
1953.
Shown in the photo are, from left to right, Cosy Cole,
Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong,
Lionel Hampton, and Billy
Rowe. Photo: Avon Mackel Archive.
' 50:
New April 28.
Hans: The attached photo
appeared in the magazine Folkparkerna och Estrad. I don't know when
the photo was taken.
Shown in the photo are (from left to right) Gene Krupa, Benny
Goodman,
Teddy Wilson, and Lionel
Hampton. Regards, Avon. Photo: Avon Mackel Archive.
' 50:
New April 28
The picture on the left
is of Lionel Hampton and some of his band
members taking a rest break
while traveling on the road. Although he
is indistinguishable in
the photo on the left, Quincy Jones is at the far
end of the bench.
The photo on the right is a profile of Quincy Jones
taken during the rest break.
The pictures were taken during the early
or mid 1950s. Photo: Avon
Mackel Archive.
' 50:
New April 28
The Lionel Hampton Revue
Photo: Avon Mackel Archive.
1955
John William "Billy" Mackel
on guitar and Lionel Hampton drums.
Tempo's
Boogie -Lionel Hampton and Billy Mackel.
1944.
Blue
Panasie-Guitarsolo, Billy Mackel. 1953.
Play with Hamp 1944-1982.
Photo: Avon Mackel Archive.
1956
Programme Lionel Hampton’s
First British Tour. 1956, Oct. and Nov.
1956
The Benny Goodman Story 1956 Legendary comedian/actor/musician
Steve Allen, (L), shown in the lead role
in this file photo from
the 1956 film "The Benny Goodman Story", died
October 31, 2000 of a possible
heart attack. Allen, who was 78, was also the
first host of "The Tonight
Show", and wrote over 4,000 songs. Musican
Lionel Hampton is at right.
REUTERS/File Photo.
1957
Paramount Pictures,
of Lionel Hampton and his Band in "Mr. Rock and Roll" 1957.
1957
Lobby card from Mister Rock
and Roll (1957). Directed by Charles S. Dubin. Starring Alan Freed,
Teddy Randazzo, Lois O'Brien,
Rocky Graziano, Jay Barney, Al Fisher, Lou Marks, Leo Wirtz, Ralph Stantley,
Lionel Hampton, Ferlin Husky,
Frankie Lymon, Little Richard, Brook Benton, Chuck Berry, Clyde McPhatter,
La Vern Baker, Shaye Cogan,
Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
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