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Riley C. Hampton



The Red Saunders Band, Club deLisa, Chicago, 1952. Riley Hampton is in the band, second from right. In front of the band are three dancers known as The Hambone Kids. | Zayde | tc837

Arranger and musician Riley C. Hampton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1918. By 1940 he was playing in bands in Detroit, moving to Fletcher Henderson’s band shortly afterwards; in 1943 he was drafted into the Army and returned to the Henderson band on discharge in 1946. In 1952 he was playing in the Red Saunders Band. By 1955 he was employed as arranger at Vee Jay Records of Chicago, hanging up his saxophone in 1959 when he became house band leader for Chess Records. He is associated with Etta James, Ramsey Lewis, Curtis Mayfield, Gene Chandler, Major Lance, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and many other artists. Mr Hampton died in 2006. 

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