Lionel Hampton Quotes

I'm motivated. The spirit hits me and I just keep going and don't stop. The more I play, the more I can invent, the more ideas come to me.

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

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.

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

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

All art is communication of the artists' ideas, sounds, thoughts; without that no one will support the artist.

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

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.

I worked hard learning harmony and theory when I was growing up in Chicago in the 1920s.

Playing gives me as much good feeling now as it did when I was a bitty kid.

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.

Every day I look forward to getting with my instruments, trying new things.

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.

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

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

Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God.

Playing is my way of thinking, talking, communicating.