Lionel Hampton

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Lionel Hampton helped bring the vibraphone to jazz with a series of important recordings and a long career as a musician and bandleader. He famously worked with Benny Goodman from 1936 until 1940 when Lionel found his own orchestra which had huge success in the United States and abroad. His theme song, "Flying Home" has become a standard within jazz along with several of his hits over the years including "Airmail Special."