Chico Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chico Hamilton
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Chico Hamilton appearing at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Tompkins Square Park, New York City, August 26, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Foreststorn Hamilton |
| Born | September 20, 1921 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 25, 2013 (aged 92) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Cool jazz, free jazz, soul jazz, hard bop, jazz-funk, boogaloo |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Associated acts | Dexter Gordon, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie |
Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton (born September 20, 1921 – died November 25, 2013) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He became well-known by playing with famous musicians like Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and Lena Horne. Later, Hamilton started his own bands. One of his first groups was a quintet that used a cello as a main instrument. This was very unusual for a jazz band in the 1950s! His bands played different styles of jazz, including cool jazz and jazz fusion.
Contents
About Chico Hamilton
Early Life and Start in Music
Chico Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. He had two brothers, and one of them, Bernie Hamilton, became an actor.
Chico started his music career even before he finished high school. He played in a band with other future jazz stars like Charles Mingus and Dexter Gordon. He also performed with many legendary musicians such as Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. These experiences helped him become a skilled and respected musician.
Chico also appeared in movies. He was part of the backing group for Fred Astaire in the film You'll Never Get Rich (1941). He also played on the music for the movie Road to Bali (1952), which starred Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
Leading His Own Bands
In 1955, Chico Hamilton recorded his first album as a band leader. He then formed a unique five-person band, called a quintet, in Los Angeles. This group was special because it included a cello, which was not common in jazz at the time. It also had a flute/saxophone player, a guitarist, a bass player, and, of course, Chico on drums. This quintet became one of the most important West Coast jazz bands.
His quintet was featured in movies too! You can see them in Sweet Smell of Success (1957) and Jazz on a Summer's Day (1960), which was filmed at the Newport Jazz Festival.
In 1961, Chico changed his group and started playing a style called "chamber jazz." This music was a bit more experimental. His group recorded music for several record labels and even created the music for a film called Litho in 1962. This was the first American film shown in countries behind the Iron Curtain (a term used for communist countries in Eastern Europe during the Cold War).
Chico Hamilton also started a company that made music for movies and commercials. He wrote music for films like Repulsion (1965) and Mr. Ricco (1975). He also created music for TV shows and hundreds of commercials.
In 1986, Chico formed a new group called Chico Hamilton and the Young Altos. They performed at famous places like the Apollo Theater and Lincoln Center.
Later Years and Awards
Chico Hamilton continued to make music throughout his life. In 2001, he released an album called Foreststorn with his group Euphoria. That same year, a special concert was held at Lincoln Center to honor him.
He received many awards for his amazing contributions to jazz music. In 1997, he got the "Beacons in Jazz Award." In 2004, he was named an "NEA Jazz Master," which is one of the highest honors for jazz musicians in the United States. In 2006, he was even chosen to be part of the President's Council on the Arts. He also received a "Living Legend Jazz Award" from The Kennedy Center in 2007.
Chico celebrated his 85th birthday in 2006 by releasing an album called Joyous Shout!. He released many other albums in his later years, including Revelation in 2011 and The Inquiring Mind in 2013. His music was also used by other artists for remixes.
Death
Chico Hamilton passed away in Manhattan on November 25, 2013, at the age of 92. He left behind his daughter, a brother, a granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters. His wife, Helen, and his brother Bernie Hamilton, who was an actor in the TV show Starsky & Hutch, both passed away in 2008.
Discography
Chico Hamilton released many albums as a bandleader throughout his long career, starting in 1955. Some of his notable albums include Chico Hamilton Quintet in Hi Fi, Drumfusion, El Chico, and The Dealer. He also played drums on albums by other famous jazz artists.
See also
In Spanish: Chico Hamilton para niños
