Slide Hampton

Slide Hampton is a jazz trombonist and arranger. He was born Locksley Wellington Hampton on April 21, 1932 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, but largely spent his youth in Indianapolis. He has played with Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, and Woody Herman, and was musical director for singer Lloyd Price and is a two-time grammy winner. He leads a nine-trombone band called World of Trombones. On October 30, 1999, he played in a recording of several pieces arranged in a book of sheet music called "Easy Jazz Conception," by Jim Snidero, which was designed to help students learn basic jazz style. He was awarded a Grammy Award in 2005 for arranging. His latest project is a modern take on the music of the Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and on June 4th 2006 with manager Tony Charles he promoted his first concert (a tribute to Jobim) and debuted The Slide Hampton Big Band at the Tribecca Performing Arts in New York City.

He also appeared on The Cosby Show at least once,as a member of Cliff's father's band. Hampton is one of the few left-handed trombone players. Although not left-handed, as a child, Hampton received a left-handed instrument from his father, a self-taught amateur musician, without realizing the difference. Largely self-taught, in the few lessons that Slide did have growing up, the oddity was never questioned. In 2005, the US National Endowment for the Arts awarded Hampton the highest award in American jazz, the NEA Jazz Masters Award.

Hampton is a resident of East Orange, New Jersey.