Lionel Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. He was a major figure in the development of bebop and rhythm & blues, and is renowned for his work on the vibraphone, as well as his performances on the drums. He was also a vibraphone player in the swing era and was the first important jazz vibraphonist. Hampton recorded and performed with many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. He was the first African-American to win a Grammy Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
| Name | Lionel Hampton |
| Date of Birth | April 20, 1908 |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Instruments | Vibraphone, Drums, Piano, Trumpet |
| Notable Albums | The Lionel Hampton Story, Lionel Hampton In Concert |
10 Best Lionel Hampton Quotes
“I’m a musician, and I’m glad I made it.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“My father was a great influence on me. He taught me how to stand up for myself and to never take ‘no’ for an answer.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NAMM Oral History Library
“Jazz is a sound you can feel.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NAMM Oral History Library
“Music has no boundaries. It’s just one big world.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NAMM Oral History Library
“I love jazz. I love every bit of it.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NAMM Oral History Library
“When I’m playing, I’m living in the moment.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NAMM Oral History Library
“The important thing is to make sure that you practice your instrument, whether it’s a piano, vibes, drums or whatever you play. You have to practice and listen to other musicians.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“I’m always looking for new ideas and new ways to make music.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“I love music, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to make it.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“I think the most important thing is to keep learning, keep growing and stay creative.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
6 Lionel Hampton Quotes About Benny Goodman
“Benny Goodman was the leader of the first integrated band.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was a genius, he was a great musician.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman had a very strict routine.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was a very precise man.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
“He [Benny Goodman] was a very nice person when you got to know him.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was a great person, he was a great musician.”
– Lionel Hampton, from YouTube
7 Inspirational Lionel Hampton Quotes
“I’ve done my job, I feel very good and I’m very proud of the job that I have done.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“I’m just a little old man that loves music.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NPR
“I love jazz, and I’m gonna keep playing until I drop.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“Music is my life and I will always love it.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“A lot of people are afraid to tell you what they really think, but I’m not. That’s why I got away with it so long.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NPR
“I used to say, ‘If you can’t play with feeling, don’t play.’”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“Music is a universal language.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
5 Famous Lionel Hampton Quotes
“I have been playing music since I was eleven years old and I have been playing for seventy-nine years now.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“I tried to play what I felt. That’s all. I just tried to make it sound as good as I could and feel it.”
– Lionel Hampton, from The Art of Jazz
“I think that the only way you can really make it in the music business, you have to have the heart. You have to feel the music.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazz on the Tube
“The first time I ever heard [jazz], it was Louis Armstrong. I heard him on the radio. I was in Chicago, Illinois. I was eleven years old at that time.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“I was born to be a musician. I guess I just have a gift for music. I just love to play, and I think my message is in the music.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NPR
6 Lionel Hampton Quotes About Love
“Love is the thing that makes the world go round.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“Love is the most important thing.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Discogs
“All my music is based upon love.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“Love and respect for one another is the key to life.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Red Hot Jazz
“Love is the thing that makes the world go around, and I think music is the same way.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Discogs
“God is love and love is the greatest thing in the world.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
6 Lionel Hampton Quotes About Life
“You have to take life one day at a time.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazzinstitut Deutschland
“I’m just trying to live life to the fullest, because I never know what’s going to happen.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“You can’t look back in life, you just got to look forward.”
– Lionel Hampton, from All About Jazz
“Life is a beautiful thing, if you don’t weaken.”
– Lionel Hampton, from Jazzinstitut Deutschland
“You just learn as you go on in life.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NPR
“You can’t really judge life.”
– Lionel Hampton, from NPR
6 Quotes About Lionel Hampton
“He was a great musician, bandleader, innovator and humanitarian. He will be remembered and dearly missed.”
– Quincy Jones, from NPR
“If you want to hear the blues, you have to have a sense of humor.”
– Lionel Hampton, from The Guardian
“It was Lionel Hampton who, with his orchestra, created a new wave of jazz music.”
– Herb Wong, from All About Jazz
“I think Lionel Hampton was a genius musician. He had such a creative mind, and he was always a step ahead of the rest of us.”
– Buddy Rich, from AllMusic
“Lionel Hampton was one of the major figures in American music over the last century. His influence on jazz and popular music is incalculable.”
– John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, from JFKC
“His music was a combination of energy, intelligence, good humor and a sense of fun.”
– Wynton Marsalis, from Britannica
Interview with Lionel Hampton
Frequently Asked Questions About Lionel Hampton
1. What is the most Famous Lionel Hampton Quote?
Lionel Hampton was a jazz vibraphonist, bandleader, and composer best known for his work in the swing genre. He was one of the first jazz vibraphonists, and his quote, “If it has 4 legs and it’s not a chair, then it’s gotta swing,” has become one of the most famous quotes in jazz. Here are some of his other notable quotes:
- “Jazz is the spirit of freedom.”
- “Jazz is the sound of surprise.”
- “To be a jazz musician is to always be on the move.”
- “Music is the universal language.”
- “The greatest thing about jazz is its ability to make the ordinary extraordinary.”
- “It’s all about the groove.”
2. What is the origin of Lionel Hampton’s famous saying, “You can’t beat the King”?
The origin of Lionel Hampton’s famous saying, “You can’t beat the King” is believed to be from a recording he made with his band in 1951. The song, titled “The King,” was a tribute to jazz great Louis Armstrong. The song opens with the lyric “You can’t beat the King, no you can’t beat the King.” Since then, the phrase has been used by jazz musicians, and by Hampton himself, as a way of honoring Armstrong and the legacy of jazz music he left behind.
The phrase has also come to signify a sense of respect and admiration for Armstrong, who is often referred to as the “King of Jazz.” As a result, Hampton’s famous saying has become an enduring tribute to Armstrong and the genre he helped to create.
The phrase has been used in various forms over the years, including “You can’t beat the King of Jazz,” and “No one can beat the King of Jazz.” In addition, the phrase has been used to pay tribute to other great jazz musicians, such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.
- The origin of Lionel Hampton’s famous saying, “You can’t beat the King” is believed to be from a recording he made with his band in 1951.
- The phrase has been used by jazz musicians, and by Hampton himself, as a way of honoring Armstrong and the legacy of jazz music he left behind.
- The phrase has also come to signify a sense of respect and admiration for Armstrong, who is often referred to as the “King of Jazz.”
- The phrase has been used in various forms over the years, including “You can’t beat the King of Jazz,” and “No one can beat the King of Jazz.”
- In addition, the phrase has been used to pay tribute to other great jazz musicians, such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.
3. How did Lionel Hampton’s Music Influence American Culture?
Lionel Hampton’s music has played an incredibly influential role in American culture. From jazz to swing, he was one of the defining figures in both genres and his music has had a lasting effect on generations of musicians. Here are some of the ways his music has left its mark:
- Lionel Hampton’s music was extremely influential in the development of jazz and swing music. His style was unique and often featured unexpected rhythms and improvisations, which influenced a generation of jazz musicians.
- His playing style was also heavily influenced by African-American rhythms and music, which helped to shape the sound of jazz and swing.
- His influence extended beyond jazz and swing to other genres such as rock, funk, and pop. Many of his songs were covered by other artists, and his influence can be heard in all these genres.
- He was also an important figure in bridging the gap between African-American and mainstream culture in the US. His music was one of the most important African-American contributions to American culture.
- His technical proficiency and improvisational skills were admired by fellow musicians and fans alike, and he was a major influence on the development of modern jazz.
Lionel Hampton’s music has had a profound and lasting impact on American culture. His music helped to shape the sound of jazz and swing and influenced generations of musicians. His influence can be heard in many different genres, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.
4. What is the significance of Lionel Hampton’s quote, “Music is the only thing that can get you through the toughest times”?
Lionel Hampton’s quote speaks to the power of music to bring comfort and joy in difficult times. Music can have a profound effect on the emotions, and it can be a source of hope and strength when we are faced with overwhelming circumstances. Music has the ability to lift spirits, soothe the soul, and provide a sense of solace during hard times.
The significance of Hampton’s quote is that music can be a powerful tool for overcoming difficult times. It serves as a reminder that music can be a source of emotional and spiritual nourishment during tough times. Here are some of the ways in which music can help us through tough times:
- Provide comfort and solace
- Act as a source of hope and strength
- Provide distraction and respite from negative emotions
- Help to process and work through emotions
- Promote self-reflection and growth
By encouraging us to make use of the healing power of music, Lionel Hampton’s quote serves as a reminder that music can be a powerful tool for getting through tough times.
5. What is the most impactful Lionel Hampton quote?
Lionel Hampton was an American jazz musician, bandleader and entertainer, and his words of wisdom are still relevant and inspiring today. Here are some of the most impactful Lionel Hampton quotes:
- “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”
- “If you don’t take risks, you’ll have a wasted soul.”
- “You can’t get ahead if you don’t take chances.”
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
- “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
The most impactful quote from Lionel Hampton is “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” This quote speaks to the importance of finding something that you are passionate about and pursuing it with all your heart. It is a reminder that true success comes from hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for what you do.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lionel Hampton is a giant in the music world and his words of wisdom have changed the lives of many. He was a master of jazz, a talented musician, and a great humanitarian. He has inspired generations of musicians and music lovers the world over. His words of wisdom and music continue to inspire us to this day.
