- Was injured in a band bus crash in October 1955 and sidelined for several months.
- Hampton received his first basic training in military drumming from a Dominican nun at Holy Rosary Academy at Collins, Wisconsin. His uncle Richard Morgan, a bootlegger, bought him his first drum kit and encouraged him to become a musician. Hampton first played drums for Major N. Clark Smith's Chicago Defender Newsboys Band. He subsequently received tuition on xylophone from his idol, the Mississippi musician Jimmy Bertrand (1900-1960).
- Served on the New York City Human Right Commission.
- Helped fund low-income housing, music scholarships and departments.
- Suffered a stroke on March 31, 1995.
- Recipient of the National Medal of the Arts, January 1997.
- Appointed "ambassador of music" to the United Nations in 1985.
- Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1986.
- Received doctorates from many colleges.
- Twice served as a Republican delegate for a presidential election.
- Upon his death, both President George W. Bush and former president Bill Clinton honored him, and claimed they were fans of his music.
- The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho, named after him, received a National Medal of Arts in 2007.
- The School of Music at the University of Idaho is named after him.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1984.
- Was known to be intensely religious.
- Started his first band on the West Coast in 1940, soon after signing a lucrative recording contract with Victor. From the 1950's, he frequently toured Europe and became especially popular at international festivals in France. He also appeared as a soloist at London's Royal Festival Hall in October 1957.
- Studied music at the University of Southern California.
- His theme song was "Flying Home". Other songs written by Hampton include "Hamp's Boogie", "Central Avenue Breakdown" and "Midnight Sun".
- Was featured at Jimmy Carter's White House Jazz Party in June 1978.
- Did much recording work for Norman Granz in the 1950's.
- Jazz musician (drums, vibraphone) who at times led his own big band and guest-appeared in occasional films. He also performed frequently with the clarinetist-bandleader Benny Goodman.
- Carlena Beard traveled for many years as his personal assistant.
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