Rapture Records

Song: Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop / Slide, Hamp, Slide

Artist: Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra

Record Label: Decca Records 18754

Recorded: December 1, 1945

Released: 1946

Location: KTI Radio, Rapture Radio

Here’s a rhythmic number featuring Lionel Hampton himself singing with Herbie Fields on the alto sax.

This song is heard both on Rapture Radio and KTI Radio. Seems like the composer makes a cameo on the mailboxes in the case, A Polite Invitation.

The tune reached No. 1 on R&B charts for 16 weeks and peaked at No. 9 on Billboard pop charts. Perhaps building on its success, Hampton recorded a number of similarly titled songs including “Chord-A-Re-Bop” and “No. 2 Re Bop and Be Bop“.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Hampton started out playing taking xylophone lessons from blues musician, Jimmy Betrand, and playing fife and drums for the Holy Rosary Academy near Chicago. His first professional gig was with the Chicago Defender Newsboys’ Band, honing his trademark stick twirling and juggling without missing a beat.

Moving to California, he began practicing with the vibraphone, a special type of xylophone with a sustain pedal and resonators. By 1930, Hampton was working with Louis Armstrong and Nat Shilkret while touring with the Les Hite band.

In 1936, he would join up with Benny Goodman along with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa to become the Benny Goodman Trio/Quartet, one of the first leading integrated jazz groups. He would perform in the famous 1938 Carnegie Hall jazz concert.

Hampton was frequently given leeway to form his own band, and in 1940, parted amicably with Benny Goodman. Under his own orchestra, he recorded hits including “Flying Home” and “Stardust”. Several band members would have stellar careers in their own write including vocalist Dinah Washington, Wes Montgomery, and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

Listen to the flip side “Slide, Hamp, Slide” here.