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.
Moonglow
Lionel Hampton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Sweet child, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
The song "Moonglow" is a classic love song that expresses the feeling of being swept away by an enchanting and romantic moment. The lyrics describe the magical moment when the singer first met their beloved under the moonlit sky, and how the feeling has stayed with them ever since. They suggest that it was the moonglow itself that led them to that person, and that the feeling was so powerful that it seemed like they were floating in the air and hearing heavenly songs.
The repeated refrain of "hold me fast" and "please let this last" emphasizes the desire of the singer to stay in that moment of pure love and happiness forever. The song is a testament to the enduring power of love and the ability of one special moment to shape an entire relationship. The romantic imagery of the moonglow and the floating through the air create a dreamy and almost surreal atmosphere that perfectly captures the feeling of falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
The bright, shining light of the full moon was high up in the sky and guided the singer towards their destination.
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
The beautiful glow of the moon was what brought the singer directly to their loved one.
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
The singer remembers their loved one asking to be held tightly and securely.
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
The singer prays that their love will remain strong and last forever.
We seemed to float right through the air
The emotional connection between the singer and their loved one was so strong that it felt like they were floating through the air together.
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
The surroundings seemed to be filled with beautiful, angelic music that enhanced the magical moment.
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
Whenever the singer sees the moon shining brightly in the sky, they are reminded of that special moment.
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
The singer will forever associate the glow of the moon with the love and connection they found with their partner.
I still hear you sayin', "Sweet child, hold me fast"
The singer's partner affectionately referred to them as a sweet child and requested to be held tight.
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
The singer continues to hold onto hope that their love will endure the test of time and remain strong.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: EDDIE DELANGE, IRVING MILLS, W HUDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gravityrules
Recorded this off an easy listening FM station in 1963, and as I got older I figured it could be Lionel Hampton. Thanks for confirming it 69 years later! Wish I knew who the other personnel on this recording were. This showed how unbelievably he could play.
@Ivan-ku1pc
Hi! According to Discogs and Jazzdisco it could have been Earl Walker on drums, Ray Johnson on bass, Wes Montgomery on guitar. The organ seems unknown, but in 1949 Doug Duke played with Lionel Hampton. Hope it helps.
@moss8448
classic
@FrankPorcini
where did you find this recording? I have a test pressing of this found in a second hand shop, no label and one side only.
I would love to know more...
@plasterkissed2064
lovely
@SELMER1947
Genius Hamp