Lionel Hampton Music Quotations

That was a big deal at the time, because no blacks were integrated with whites in anything - not in sports, basketball, football, nothing.

Music was our wife and we loved her. We stayed with her, clothed her and put diamond rings on her hands.

It's always Jazz. You can put a new dress on her, a new hat, but no matter what kind of clothes she's the same old broad.

Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.

Man, as long as people want to hear Jazz, I'll give it to them.

Working with Benny was important for me and for black musicians in general.

So I always figured I'd still be playing at this age.

I feel honored to have been a part of that dramatic change.

Black and white players hadn't appeared together in public before Teddy Wilson and I began working with B.G.

The secret is keeping busy, and loving what you do.

Music was our wife, and we loved her. And we stayed with her, and we clothed her, and we put diamond rings on her hands.

I think I love it more as I get older because I keep getting better on drums, vibes and piano.