Hampton was born on 20th April 1908 in Louisville, Kentucky, but moved to Chicago as a child, where he began his career as a drummer. He relocated to Los Angeles to play drums in Les Hite's band. They soon became the house band for Frank Sebastian's New Cotton Club, a popular L.A. jazz club.
During a 1930 recording date in the NBC studios in L.A., Louis Armstrong discovered a vibraphone. He asked Hampton if he could play it. Hampton, who knew how to play the xylophone, tried it and they agreed to record a few records with Hamp on vibes. Hampton is credited with popularizing the vibraphone as a jazz instrument.
In the mid-1930s, the Benny Goodman Orchestra came to Los Angeles to play the Palomar Ballroom. John Hammond brought Goodman to see Hampton play. Goodman asked Hampton to move to New York City and join Goodman, Teddy Wilson, and Gene Krupa who'd already formed a Benny Goodman Trio within the large band - to expand into the Benny Goodman Quartet. The Trio and Quartet were among the first racially integrated bands to record and play before wide audiences; they were just as well received at Goodman's famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert as was the full Goodman band.
While Hampton worked for Goodman in New York, he recorded with several different small groups known as the Lionel Hampton Orchestra as well as assorted small groups within the Goodman band. In the early 40s he left the Goodman organization to form his own touring band.
Hampton's band fostered the talents of Illinois Jacquet, Dexter Gordon, Ernie Royal, Jack McVea, Charlie Mingus, Monk Montgomery, Wes Montgomery, Quincy Jones, Benny Golson, Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, Dinah Washington, Betty Carter, Joe Williams, Arnett Cobb, Earl Bostic, and John Colianni among many others.
Hampton's recording of "Flying Home" (1939) with the famous honking tenor sax solo by Jacquet, later refined and expanded by Cobb (1946), is considered by some to be the first rock and roll record. He was known for his tireless energy and his skill on the vibes, drums, and lightning speed two-fingered piano. The bars on the vibraphone are laid out like the piano; Hampton played both instruments the same way.
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Hampton and his band started playing at the University of Idaho's jazz concert, which in 1985 was renamed the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. In 1987 the University's music college was renamed the Lionel Hampton School of Music, the first and only university music college to be named after a jazz musician.
Lionel Hampton died of cardiac arrest at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York on 31st August 2002. He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.
As Long as I Live
Lionel Hampton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as I have you
Though there be rain
And darkness too
I'll not complain
I'll see it through
Poverty
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.
The song "As Long As I Live" performed by Lionel Hampton talks about an unwavering commitment to someone. The singer of the song claims that they can weather any storm as long as they have this person by their side. Even if there are difficult times ahead (represented by rain and darkness), the singer will not complain and will "see it through." The singer acknowledges that poverty may come their way, but they do not care as long as they have this person with them, they will "get by."
The lyrics suggest a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The singer's choice of words conveys a sense of self-assurance and strength. The message is clear that with the right person by your side, anything is possible. The singer's lack of concern for poverty may also suggest that the person they have is worth more than any material wealth.
Overall, "As Long As I Live" is a love song that emphasizes the importance of having the right person in your life. Lionel Hampton's performance of the song enhances this message with a slow, steady beat that conveys a sense of steadfastness and unwavering commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll get by
I can manage without materialistic things
As long as I have you
As long as I have your emotional support
Though there be rain
Even if there are difficulties
And darkness too
And unbearable situations
I'll not complain
I will not express my dissatisfaction
I'll see it through
I will overcome the challenges
Poverty
Lack of material wealth
May come to me, it's true
Could happen to anyone
But what care I
But it does not matter to me
Say, I'll get by
I will manage to survive
As long as I have you.
As long as I have your unwavering support
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Diva2985
Love Lionel Hampton,Terry Gibbs,Cal Tjader...Great Vibes players of all time!
George Royal
Please don't forget Bags, from the MJQ.
Santos Cintron
This is one of the best Jazz music that i personally injoy. Listen.
Jazzfunkyman69
Lionel Hampton was the mentor of Roy Ayers, very good concert , thanks
mike farmer
Saw a similar band on 17th July 1978 at Middlesborough football stadium but Mike Vax tpt and Ernie Wilkins alto. The North Sea gig had better sound and the film crew did a fantastic job
Susan Cain
As a kid my family lived in London Ontario Canada. My dad was building a family room in the basement and every weekend I would go down into the basement and every weekend my dad put on his Lionel Hampton album and I danced that album to death. I was around 8 or 9 at the time. That was my intro to jazz. I could'nt wait for the weekend.
Joe Jacobs
Same deal here. When we were kids we sort of 'learned' to love what the parents had because we didn't have much. Played every album we loved over and over until you could see though it.
Александр Цаль
Джаз это прекрасно!
ed polk
R.I.P. Paul Moen - tenor on Moments Notice. He recorded a tenor trio on the same tune, with Gary Pribeck and Steve Marcus on the Buddy Rich CD
Jorge Edisson Parreno Pineda
LIONEL YOU swing dude!!!!! awesome! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!