Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton, the reigning King of the Vibraphone, began his musical career as a drummer. In 1930, he met Louis Armstrong, who was so impressed hearing him at an L.A. nightclub that he was invited to a recording session. It was at that session that Armstrong spotted a set of vibes and asked him if he knew how to play them. Never one to refuse a challenge, Hamp picked up the mallets. The first tune they cut, "Memories of You," became a hit for Armstrong. John Hammond, the great jazz impresario, heard the record and began touting Hamp's vibes work to Benny Goodman. In August of 1936, Hammond brought Goodman to hear young Lionel Hampton.
At that time Goodman had a trio with in the big band and with the addition of Lionel Hampton it became the Benny Goodman Quartet. They made history not only for their brilliant music, but because they were the first racially integrated group of jazz musicians in the nation. In the early forties Hamp left Goodman to form his own big band after the release of a couple of wildly successful RCA singles under his own name. His first big band included such sidemen as Dexter Gordon and Illinois Jacquet.
Hamp is an exclusive artist with Mojazz, a new jazz division of Motown Records. He still tours with his 17-piece big band, considered to be the best big band of its type in the world. He is also a recipient of many honors including the 1992 Kennedy Center Honors, more than 15 honorary doctorates, and the Gold Medal of Paris, its highest cultural award.

   Hampton Discography

The artist profiles on these pages were excerpted from the Carnegie Hall Tribute program. We present them here in an effort to recognize the artists that keep the music of Lady Ella alive through their repertoire.