Lionel Hampton

Trivia

• 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.
• 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 during his lifetime.
• Hampton was deeply involved in the construction of various public housing projects, and founded the Lionel Hampton Development Corporation.
• Hampton remained active until a stroke in Paris in 1991 led to a collapse on stage.
• In 1987 the UI's school of music was renamed for Hampton, the first university music school named for a jazz musician.
• He did not fare much better in the 1970s, though he recorded actively on the Who's Who Record label.
• During the 1960s, the public success of Hampton's groups was in decline; he was still performing what had succeeded for him during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
• 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.
• In 1955 he was in California working on The Benny Goodman Story he was able to record sessions with Stan Getz and Art Tatum for Norman Granz as well as with his own big band.
• Hampton continued to record with small groups and jam sessions during the 1940s and 1950s, with groups including Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Buddy DeFranco among others.

Quotes

• “Louis asked me do I know anything the instrument, and what was it, and I explained it to him. So he said, 'Could you play something on it?' I said, 'Sure,' you know.”
• “It was the first time black and white ever played together and at that time there were no blacks and whites associating together.”
• “I think I love it more as I get older because I keep getting better on drums, vibes and piano.”
• “So I always figured I'd still be playing at this age.”
• “I worked hard learning harmony and theory when I was growing up in Chicago in the 1920s.”
• “I feel honored to have been a part of that dramatic change.”
• “Music was our wife, and we loved her. And we stayed with her, and we clothed her, and we put diamond rings on her hands.”
• “Working with Benny was important for me and for black musicians in general.”
• “Every day I look forward to getting with my instruments, trying new things.”
• “Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.”