Lionel Hampton
First photo is of Lionel playing the Vibraphone. The second photo is Lionel with some of the embers of The Benny Goodman Quartet.
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Early CareerDuring the 1930's Lionel was given a rare opportunity to do a recording session with Louis Armstrong where he by chance decided to attempt the vibraphone. Hampton's natural musical talents made such an impact when he played that he was asked to record more with Armstrong and would later be given the nickname "king of vibes." It was his unique and powerful solos on the vibraphone that had never been introduced to jazz that made Hampton's career take off.
When news of Lionel broke out, Benny Goodman reached out to Hampton and asked him to not only record with him but to join his band in 1936. Together they made several recording such as "My Last Affair" and "Exactly like you." Lionel's joining of the Benny Goodman Quartet also marked the first racially integrated musical group of jazz musicians. Lionel decided to branch off from The Benny Goodman Quartet in the 1940's where he would then start his own band, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, by 1945 Hampton was the highest paid bandleader performing that same year at Carnegie Hall. Hampton was becoming globally known as a "dazzling Show-man" for his high energy and engagement with his crowds. His most famous song titled "flying home" and "Hamps Boogie-Woogie" became top-of-the-chart best sellers. However, if it were not for Lionel's wife, Gladys, who he also married in 1936 Hamptons dream of starting his own band might not have ever happened. Gladys became Lionel's personal manager and gained an impressive titled as a brilliant business women. Gladys was also the person responsible for raising enough money to get the band started. Lionel In His Later YearsIn the early 50's Hampton began to tour around the world from Japan, Africa, Australia, to the Middle East as a goodwill ambassador and was frequently shown on TV. With help of his wife Gladys, Hampton's business goals of starting his own record labels together, they not only created record labels but a music publishing business, as well as a company that built low-income housing in inner cities.
Lionel later built a strong connection with the University of Idaho during the 1980's later leading to the university to create a school named after him "Lionel Hampton School of Music," this is also the first and only school within a university to be named after any jazz artist. Lionel Lived to be 90 years old and continued to still perform until his passing from cardiovascular disease on August 31, 2002 in New York City. |
King of Vibes
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