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.
I'll be seeing you
Lionel Hampton Lyrics
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That this heart of mine embraces all day through
In that small cafe, the park across the way
The children's carousel,
The chestnut trees, the wishing well
I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll find you in the morning' sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you
I'll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you
Lionel Hampton's "I'll be seeing you" is a timeless classic that has been interpreted by many artists over the years. The song's lyrics capture the lingering memories of a love that has been left behind. The song paints a vivid picture of the singer reminiscing about their loved one who has left, and how they will always be thinking of them no matter where they go.
The first verse describes how the singer will be seeing their loved one in all the familiar places they used to go. These places are imbued with memories of their time together and bring solace to the singer's heart when they think of them. The second verse talks about how the singer will find their loved one in everything that's light and gay, and every lovely summer's day. This suggests that the love they shared was joyous and filled with happiness. The final verse talks about how the singer will look for their loved one in the morning sun and at night when the moon is new. This emphasizes how they will never truly forget about their love, and how this person will always hold a special place in their heart.
The song's lyrics are simple, but they convey a deep sense of longing and nostalgia that many people can relate to. It's a reminder that even when someone is gone, the memories of them can continue to bring joy and comfort. "I'll be seeing you" is an emotional and moving song that continues to endure.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places
I will constantly be reminded of you in every place that I am used to visiting and holds a special place in my heart.
That this heart of mine embraces all day through
My heart is constantly filled with thoughts of you, every second of the day.
In that small cafe, the park across the way
I'll remember you in that coffee shop we visited and the park across from it where we sat together on the bench.
The children's carousel,
Every time I see a children's carousel in the park, I'll remember the day we sat on it together.
The chestnut trees, the wishing well
The chestnut trees and the wishing well will always remind me of you, as we walked past them every time we took a stroll in the park.
I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day
Every beautiful summer day will make me reminisce the time we spent together sharing the joys of the weather.
In everything that's light and gay
Every happy and delightful thing around me will bring about thoughts of you.
I'll always think of you that way
I will hold on to the beautiful memories of ours and remember you with warmth and love.
I'll find you in the morning' sun
Every day, the first rays of the morning sun will remind me of the way you smiled during our morning walks.
And when the night is new
As evening draws near, I will recall the comfort of your hand and the warmth of your love.
I'll be looking at the moon
Every night when I gaze at the moon in the sky, I will remember the moments we spent watching the stars together.
But I'll be seeing you
Although you are no longer here, I'll still see you in my fondest memories and my love for you will always remain strong.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind