Lionel Hampton died on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002 in New York City. He was 94.

Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1908. He was raised by his grandmother, at first in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His family noved to Chicago in 1916. Hamp was an energetic, hard-working boy who earned money from his paper route, delivering the Chicago Defender around his south side neighborhood. Hampton began his music career playing drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboy's Band

Hamp was one of the last big band leaders from the Swing Era still in our midst. He led one of the most exciting big bands around for decades. Everyone admired Hamp's incredible musicianship. He also was admired for being such a fine person.

The Benny Goodman Quartet (1936)

Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, and Gene Krupa

For nearly 20 years, Lionel Hampton and the University of Idaho partnered to showcase America's jazz music tradition and promote music education. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho has become a nationally acclaimed event, featuring four days of concerts, clinics and student competitions. In 1987, the university named its School of Music after Hampton. The Lionel Hampton School of Music is the only such school named after a jazz musician. Their web site shows how much the university admired and appreciated him. Perhaps the University of Idaho will inspire other American universities to follow their fine example in teaching and promoting jazz.

I met Hampton in 1980 when he performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival with his big band. It was the first, and sadly, the only time I heard them. The late Don DeMicheal, former editor of Downbeat, was a drummer and vibraphonist who revered Hampton. Don and I were both board members of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, which programmed the Chicago Jazz Festival.

We stood at stage right watching Hamp and his band. Don smiled the entire time, enjoying what was a truly remarkable performance. The tens of thousands of people in the audience were on their feet, cheering and clapping and even dancing in the aisles and on the enormous grassy area surrounding the Petrillo Music Shell.

When I knew Don during the late 1970s and early 1980s, he often played with Barrett Deems and Deemus. He died all too soon on Feb. 4, 1982 after losing a bout to cancer. He was only 53.

Hampton and his band were one of the finest I've ever heard. I'll never forget that night, or Hamp. He was truly a musician's musician. And so was Don DeMicheal.

Thanks for all of your great music, Hamp. You gave a lot of joy to the world. You will be missed....

George Spink
Los Angeles
September 2002
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