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.
Loose Wig
Lionel Hampton Lyrics
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Loose Wig
Yeah!
The lyrics of "Loose Wig" by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra are simple and repetitive, serving more as a chant or exclamation rather than a narrative. The repetition of "Loose Wig" creates a sense of rhythm and energy, which is in line with the song's jazzy and upbeat sound. The lyrics may be interpreted as a call to dance or to let loose, as if to say "let your hair down" or "let's get wild." The song is primarily instrumental, with the vocals acting as a sort of punctuation to the music.
The lyrics of "Loose Wig" can also be seen as a reflection of the era in which it was created. The mid-20th century was a time of great social change, particularly in the realm of music and dance. Jazz and swing were at their peak popularity, and with it came a new sense of freedom and celebration. The lyrics of "Loose Wig" may then be seen as a nod to this cultural shift, encouraging listeners to embrace the new, dynamic spirit of the times.
Line by Line Meaning
Loose Wig
My toupee is not secured properly on my head
Loose Wig
My toupee is still not secured properly on my head
Yeah!
Expressing enthusiasm or excitement
Contributed by Alice L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.