Lionel Leo Hampton (1908–2002), was a U.S. bandleader, jazz percussionist, … Read Full Bio ↴Lionel Leo Hampton (1908–2002), was a U.S. bandleader, jazz percussionist, and vibraphonist.

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.

On the Sunny Side of the Stree
Lionel Hampton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walked with no one and talked with no one
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say

Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street

I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over

If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet

On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street

Overall Meaning

In Lionel Hampton's classic tune "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the singer begins by describing a life of loneliness and darkness, with nothing but shadows to keep him company. However, all of that changes when he encounters a special someone who brightens his life and his outlook on the world. He finds joy in the simple things, greeting each day with sunshine in his heart and leaving his worries behind. He urges others to do the same, to grab their coat and hat and head to the sunny side of the street, where life is sweet and full of happiness. Even if he were penniless, he feels as though he would still be rich, surrounded by gold dust and the joy of a life filled with light and laughter.

This song is a testament to the idea that one person can truly make a difference in another's life, and that a positive outlook can make all the difference. The imagery of the sunny side of the street serves as a metaphor for a life lived on the bright side, and the song encourages everyone to pursue that way of life. The upbeat tempo and joyful melody only serve to reinforce this message of joy and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Walked with no one and talked with no one
I was alone, didn't have anyone to talk to.

And I had nothing but shadows
I didn't have anything solid in my life, just darkness.

Then one morning you passed
I met someone who changed my life.

And I brightened at last
I finally felt some happiness.

Now I greet the day and complete the day
I start and end my day with positivity.

With the sun in my heart
I carry happiness inside me.

All my worry blew away
I stopped worrying about things.

When you taught me how to say
You showed me a new way of living.

Grab your coat and get your hat
Get ready to go out.

Leave your worry on the doorstep
Don't let your worries stop you from having fun.

Just direct your feet
Move yourself towards happiness.

To the sunny side of the street
To the brighter side of life.

Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Can't you hear your heart beating with happiness?

And that happy tune is your step
You're walking with joy.

Life can be so sweet
Life can be happy and wonderful.

On the sunny side of the street
If you choose to see the good in life.

I used to walk in the shade
I used to be sad and unhappy.

With those blues on parade
I would showcase my sadness.

But I'm not afraid
But now I'm not scared anymore.

This Rover crossed over
I moved to the brighter side of life.

If I never have a cent
Even if I don't have wealth.

I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I still feel like a millionaire.

Gold dust at my feet
I feel like I'm walking on sunshine.

On the sunny side of the street
Life is just better when you're happy.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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