I was a fan. Started life as the child of a Greek immigrant. Ended life as a Black organic fruit farmer.
In between he created some great music, from territorial big bands, to R&B, Rock and Roll and soul and back again. Wrote some entertaining books and lead a church.
His Mambo Boogie was the first record to mix mambo with jazz.
Never saw him play, never made it to his road side attraction.
A hint of what his show might have looked like in the mid 50s
Took me all day but I just got done watching this. Well worth it.
Happy Hamp is a motherfucker on the vibes. Sure sticks to the sharps and flats.
The Eligables singing Tom Dooley give a clue to just how big folk music was in the 50s.
mini
879 Posts
Comments
I was a fan. Started life as the child of a Greek immigrant. Ended life as a Black organic fruit farmer.
In between he created some great music, from territorial big bands, to R&B, Rock and Roll and soul and back again. Wrote some entertaining books and lead a church.
His Mambo Boogie was the first record to mix mambo with jazz.
Never saw him play, never made it to his road side attraction.
Missed.
the man was diverse. was his main instrument vibes?
He started out as a drummer IIRC, then added vibes and piano.
A hint of what his show might have looked like in the mid 50s
I suspect he was involved in this spooky popcorn 45.
Took me all day but I just got done watching this. Well worth it.
Happy Hamp is a motherfucker on the vibes. Sure sticks to the sharps and flats.
The Eligables singing Tom Dooley give a clue to just how big folk music was in the 50s.
Again, RIP.