Hampton Hawes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hampton Hawes
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Hawes in Japan in 1953
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. |
| Born | November 13, 1928 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 1977 (aged 48) Los Angeles |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, soul jazz, jazz-funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | Contemporary, Discovery, Fantasy |
| Associated acts | Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, Jim Hall, Barney Kessell, Charles Mingus, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers |
Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. (born November 13, 1928 – died May 22, 1977) was an American jazz pianist. He wrote a book about his life called Raise Up Off Me. This book won an important award for music writing in 1975.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Hampton Hawes was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 13, 1928. His father, Hampton Hawes Sr., was a minister at a church in Los Angeles. His mother, Gertrude Holman, was the church's pianist.
Hampton's first experience with the piano was very early. As a toddler, he would sit on his mother's lap while she played. People said he could play complicated tunes by the time he was just three years old!
Career and Important Moments
Hampton Hawes taught himself how to play the piano. By the time he was a teenager, he was already playing with famous jazz musicians on the West Coast. Some of these musicians included Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, and Art Pepper.
When he was 18, he played for eight months with the Howard McGhee Quintet. This group even included the legendary Charlie Parker. By the end of 1947, Hampton was so well-known that he started recording music in studios.
After serving in the U.S. Army in Japan from 1952 to 1954, Hawes started his own music group. It was a trio with bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Chuck Thompson. In 1955, this group made three records called Trio. These records were considered some of the best jazz albums from the West Coast at that time. The next year, he added guitarist Jim Hall for the All Night Sessions. These were three records made during one very long recording session.
In 1956, after a six-month tour, Hawes won "New Star of the Year" from Down Beat magazine. He also won "Arrival of the Year" from Metronome magazine. The next year, he recorded an album in New York City with Charles Mingus called Mingus Three.
Hampton Hawes faced a difficult time in his life. While in prison, he recorded an album of spiritual and gospel songs called The Sermon. In 1961, while watching President Kennedy's speech on TV, Hawes felt hopeful. He believed President Kennedy would help him. With support, Hawes asked for a special pardon from the president. In August 1963, President Kennedy granted him Executive Clemency. This was a very rare and special act of kindness from the president.
After being released, Hawes started playing and recording music again. He went on a ten-month tour across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. During this tour, he recorded nine albums and played many sold-out shows. He was also featured on TV and radio in different countries.
Hampton Hawes wrote a book about his life called Raise Up Off Me. It was one of the first books about the bebop jazz style written by a musician. It won the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award in 1975. Many critics praised the book, calling it a very important jazz story.
In the 1970s, Hawes tried out electronic music. He even had a special instrument made for him. But eventually, he went back to playing the acoustic piano. Hampton Hawes died suddenly in 1977, at the age of 48, from a brain hemorrhage. He was buried next to his father in Los Angeles.
His Unique Style and Influence
Hampton Hawes' playing style became well-known in the early 1950s. He used musical ideas from other famous pianists like Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson. He also had a special way of playing called "locked-hands style," where the top notes of his chords always sounded clear. He also helped create a bluesy, rhythmic style that other pianists like Horace Silver later used. His technique allowed him to play very fast and control the sound of the piano beautifully.
Hawes inspired many other great pianists, including André Previn and Horace Silver. His own musical influences came from different places. He was inspired by the gospel music he heard in his father's church and the boogie-woogie piano style of Earl Hines. He also learned a lot from pianists like Nat King Cole. However, Hawes said his biggest influence was his friend, Charlie Parker.
Discography Overview
Hampton Hawes recorded many albums throughout his career, both as a leader of his own groups and as a sideman with other famous musicians.
He released albums like Hampton Hawes Trio, This Is Hampton Hawes, and the All Night Session! Vol. 1 series. These albums often featured his trio or quartet.
He also played on albums with other jazz greats, including:
- Gene Ammons
- Sonny Criss
- Dexter Gordon
- Wardell Gray
- Barney Kessel
- Charles Mingus
- Art Pepper
- Sonny Rollins
See also
In Spanish: Hampton Hawes para niños
- List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States
