Today's playlist is the 29th installment, featuring "Lionel Hampton."
I bought it at "Flash Disc Ranch," my regular record store in Shimokitazawa.
I've been going to this record store ever since I started living in Setagaya. Their loyalty card, which is valid as long as the store exists, offers a fantastic system: after collecting 50 stamps, you get 50% off any number of records under 15,000 yen. It's a popular store because of this amazing deal.
Lionel Hampton's Brilliant Jazz Life
Legendary jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was a shining star in American jazz. He collaborated with jazz giants such as Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the National Medal of Arts in 1996.
Early Life and Musical Awakening
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1908, Lionel spent his early childhood with his mother in Birmingham, Alabama. He then moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and later to Chicago in 1916. As a boy, Lionel joined the Bud Billiken Club as he was unable to join the Boy Scouts due to racial segregation.
In the 1920s, Lionel began playing drums in his teens, receiving xylophone lessons from Jimmy Bertrand. Raised Catholic, he played fife and drums at the Holy Rosary Academy near Chicago.
Early Career and Move to California
Lionel began his career as a drummer for a newspaper delivery band in Chicago, where he was influenced by watching Louis Armstrong perform. In 1927 or 1928, he moved to California and played drums with the Dixieland Blues Blowers. His drumming was characterized by stunts such as spinning and juggling sticks.
During this period, Lionel began practicing the vibraphone. In 1930, Louis Armstrong came to California and hired Lionel for his band, marking the beginning of Lionel's career as a vibraphonist. He contributed to the popularization of the vibraphone, an instrument with metal bars, a sustain pedal, and resonant tubes with electric fans.
Meeting Benny Goodman
In 1936, when Benny Goodman's orchestra visited Los Angeles, Goodman heard Lionel play and invited him to join his trio. This trio soon became a quartet, performing in front of audiences as one of the first racially integrated jazz groups.
Lionel Hampton Orchestra
In 1940, Lionel left Goodman and formed his own big band. "Flying Home," recorded in 1942, became a huge hit, and his orchestra gained significant attention throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
Later Activities and Social Contributions
From 1984 onwards, Lionel performed at the annual jazz festival at the University of Idaho, and in 1987, the university's music school was named after him. He suffered from health problems in his later years but continued to perform. In 2002, he passed away from heart failure at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City at the age of 94.
Lionel Hampton's Legacy
Many prominent figures attended his funeral to honor his achievements. The procession, starting from the Cotton Club in Harlem, reminded many of his great music and life. Lionel Hampton continues to influence many people through his passion and music.
At WAITER-U, we not only select camping gear but also music, books, and movies.
We also create playlists on Spotify, so feel free to listen to them in your car on your way to camping.
