1908 - 2002
Lionel Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader, born on April 20, 1908, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is renowned for popularizing the vibraphone as a jazz instrument and was a key figure in the development of big band and swing music. Throughout his career, Hampton collaborated with numerous jazz legends, including Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker, and received multiple awards for his contributions to music.