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.
My Foolish Heart
Lionel Hampton Lyrics
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Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
The lyrics of Lionel Hampton's song "My Foolish Heart" convey the intense love and passion of the singer, while also warning about the dangers of allowing oneself to become lost in the moment without considering the consequences. The singer juxtaposes the beauty of the night and the moon with the vulnerability of the heart, urging caution and a sense of self-awareness. The lyrics convey the message that love can be both all-consuming and dangerous, and that one must be careful not to be blinded by the passion.
The singer recognizes the blurred line between love and fascination, cautioning that it is often difficult to distinguish between the two when caught up in the magic of a kiss. The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of the potential danger of letting oneself be swept up in the moment, but cannot resist their feelings towards the object of their affection. The singer acknowledges that their lover's lips are too close to theirs, but ultimately decides to give in to their desires and let the fire of passion ignite.
Overall, the lyrics of "My Foolish Heart" highlight the complexities of love and the importance of maintaining a balance between passion and logic. The singer recognizes the potential for danger when one is consumed by their emotions, but also acknowledges that the desire for love can be overpowering and all-encompassing.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The beauty of the night is like a soothing melody
Beware my foolish heart
Be cautious of the impulsiveness of love
How white the ever constant moon
The brightness of the moon is unwavering
Take care my foolish heart
Guard your heart against recklessness
There's a line between love and fascination
It's difficult to distinguish between being enamored and being deeply in love
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It's a challenge to differentiate these emotions, which have many different names
For they both have the very same sensation
Love and fascination make you feel the exact same way
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
When you're engrossed in a kiss, you're captivated by its enchantment
Her lips are much too close to mine
The woman I care for is in such close proximity to me
But should our eager lips combine
But if we should kiss with passion
Then let the fire start
Then let the flames of love ignite
For this time it isn't fascination
This time I'm sure it's not just infatuation
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
Nor is it an illusion that will later dissipate
It's love, this time it's love
It's genuine love, this time it's the real thing
My foolish heart
Even though love can be unpredictable and irrational, I'm willing to take the risk
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: NED WASHINGTON, VICTOR YOUNG, VICTOR POPULAR YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind