Slide Hampton, a jazz mainstay on the trombone for more than 60 years, died Saturday at his home in Orange, NJ at age 89. His grandson confirmed his death, but didn’t give a cause.
Hampton was one of the top trombonists of his era, starting in the late 1950s post-bebop scene. He was part of bands with Dizzy Gillespie and Maynard Ferguson, among others. He won Grammy Awards for his arrangements in 1998 and in 2005, and later in 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts named him a Jazz Master.
In the 1980s, he led a band called the World of Trombones, a nine trombone ensemble.
Hampton married Althea Gardner in 1948, divorcing in 1997. Survivors include his brother, Maceo; his children, Jacquelyn, Lamont, and Locksley Jr.; five grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Hampton was one of the top trombonists of his era, starting in the late 1950s post-bebop scene. He was part of bands with Dizzy Gillespie and Maynard Ferguson, among others. He won Grammy Awards for his arrangements in 1998 and in 2005, and later in 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts named him a Jazz Master.
In the 1980s, he led a band called the World of Trombones, a nine trombone ensemble.
Hampton married Althea Gardner in 1948, divorcing in 1997. Survivors include his brother, Maceo; his children, Jacquelyn, Lamont, and Locksley Jr.; five grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
- 11/25/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
When the Beatles played Detroit’s Olympia Stadium on August 13th, 1966, a seven-year-old aspiring drummer named Gregg Bissonette sat high up in the nosebleeds, rapturously soaking up every second of the experience. “I spent the whole night focused on Ringo,” he says. “He was keeping the whole thing together. It was the defining moment in my life. I remember praying to God, ‘Some day I’d love to play with Ringo.'”
His prayer was answered 37 years later when Ringo invited him to play a few promotional gigs to support his 2003 LP,...
His prayer was answered 37 years later when Ringo invited him to play a few promotional gigs to support his 2003 LP,...
- 7/28/2020
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Jaco Pastorius has been called “The World’s Greatest Bass Player”. He revolutionized the way we think about and play the modern electric bass. On August 12th at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Vince Mendoza has assembled a who’s who of legendary musicians to celebrate Jaco and his music. I had a chance to chat with Wayne Shorter and Peter Erskine before the big night. The Year of Jaco Peter Erskine recalled meeting Jaco for the first time in-between sets while playing with Maynard Ferguson in 1977. He said to me “Hey man, have fun”. On Pastorius’ recommendation Erskine got the call to join Weather Report in 1978. During a recording session for Weather Report’s 1978 album “Mr. Gone”, Erskine was getting his drum sounds just right for the Wayne Shorter penned “Pinocchio”. Not thinking what he was playing was being recorded or going to be used, he went...
- 8/11/2015
- by Matt Perez-Mora
- Hitfix
Trumpeter who played on every James Bond film soundtrack from Dr No to Skyfall
The trumpeter Derek Watkins, who has died aged 68 of cancer, was recognised by his fellow professionals as the finest lead player of his generation. To see him take his place in a big-band trumpet section or orchestral ensemble was to be reassured that all would be well. Dizzy Gillespie, no mean judge of trumpeters, called him "Mr Lead".
Watkins played on every James Bond film soundtrack from Dr No (1962) to Skyfall (2012), his blazing lead trumpet work evident on Monty Norman's iconic James Bond theme. The 19-year-old Watkins's spine-chilling trumpet growls set the scene on John Barry's Goldfinger (1964) theme, sung by Shirley Bassey, and Watkins was also prominent on Bill Conti's For Your Eyes Only (1981) score. As Barry said, Watkins "never failed to deliver the goods".
The film composer John Altman recalled that Watkins...
The trumpeter Derek Watkins, who has died aged 68 of cancer, was recognised by his fellow professionals as the finest lead player of his generation. To see him take his place in a big-band trumpet section or orchestral ensemble was to be reassured that all would be well. Dizzy Gillespie, no mean judge of trumpeters, called him "Mr Lead".
Watkins played on every James Bond film soundtrack from Dr No (1962) to Skyfall (2012), his blazing lead trumpet work evident on Monty Norman's iconic James Bond theme. The 19-year-old Watkins's spine-chilling trumpet growls set the scene on John Barry's Goldfinger (1964) theme, sung by Shirley Bassey, and Watkins was also prominent on Bill Conti's For Your Eyes Only (1981) score. As Barry said, Watkins "never failed to deliver the goods".
The film composer John Altman recalled that Watkins...
- 3/25/2013
- by Peter Vacher
- The Guardian - Film News
Derek Watkins, the trumpeter who played on every James Bond soundtrack, has died aged 68.
The British musician performed on every Bond film from Dr No to 2012's Skyfall.
He passed away at his home in Esher, Surrey, on Friday (March 22) after a long illness.
Watkins was "widely considered to be the foremost British Big Band trumpet player" of all time, Philip Biggs of the Brass Herald said.
The trumpeter is survived by his wife Wendy and their three children.
Watkins turned professional aged 17, before playing in his conductor father's band the Spring Gardens Brass Band in Reading.
Dizzy Gillespie described him as "Mr Lead", and he also played with the likes of The Beatles, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He also played with the BBC Big Band, while also performing with jazz musicians including Johnny Dankworth, Maynard Ferguson and Benny Goodman.
The British musician performed on every Bond film from Dr No to 2012's Skyfall.
He passed away at his home in Esher, Surrey, on Friday (March 22) after a long illness.
Watkins was "widely considered to be the foremost British Big Band trumpet player" of all time, Philip Biggs of the Brass Herald said.
The trumpeter is survived by his wife Wendy and their three children.
Watkins turned professional aged 17, before playing in his conductor father's band the Spring Gardens Brass Band in Reading.
Dizzy Gillespie described him as "Mr Lead", and he also played with the likes of The Beatles, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He also played with the BBC Big Band, while also performing with jazz musicians including Johnny Dankworth, Maynard Ferguson and Benny Goodman.
- 3/25/2013
- Digital Spy
One Texas legend pays tribute to another. Kinky Friedman on W.'s rehab tour, his poll advantage over Barack Obama, the release of Decision Points, and how history may smile on the Decider.
Full disclosure: I am the only man who has slept under two presidents in the White House-Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The last time I hung out with Bill was in Sydney, just after he'd gotten out of office. I was right in the middle of something when he called and said, "Let's go see [the late great horn player] Maynard Ferguson at the Basement," which we did. I have not seen George and Laura since they left the White House. Like millions of other Americans, I'm starting to miss them, too.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Today's Big Events
W., I understand, is sleeping better these days. He is setting up his new library, working with Clinton to help Haiti,...
Full disclosure: I am the only man who has slept under two presidents in the White House-Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The last time I hung out with Bill was in Sydney, just after he'd gotten out of office. I was right in the middle of something when he called and said, "Let's go see [the late great horn player] Maynard Ferguson at the Basement," which we did. I have not seen George and Laura since they left the White House. Like millions of other Americans, I'm starting to miss them, too.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Today's Big Events
W., I understand, is sleeping better these days. He is setting up his new library, working with Clinton to help Haiti,...
- 11/13/2010
- by Kinky Friedman
- The Daily Beast
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