LIONEL HAMPTON - INSCRIBED SIGNATURE CO-SIGNED BY: JEAN GEORGES SABLON - HFSID 168546

LIONEL HAMPTON and JEAN SABLON. Inscribed signature: "To Mary/Lionel/Hampton" and, on verso, "best wishes/Jean Sablon", 4¾x3¼. Names written (unknown hand) at lower margin of each side. LIONEL LEO HAMPTON (1908-2002), the first jazz vibraphonist, began his career as a drummer. Louis Armstrong encouraged him to try the vibraphone, used by NBC radio to announce intermissions. Their 1930 recording of "Memories of You" forever associated Hampton with the instrument, although he was also an accomplished piano player. In 1940, Hampton formed his own band, which became the first Black band to tour the racially segregated South with a white singer (1950). JEAN SABLON (1906-1994) was one of France's most acclaimed male singers, considered second only to Maurice Chevalier. Sablon, who began singing in Paris cabarets at the age of 17, was the first cabaret singer to use a microphone in his act. In 1937, he won the Grand Prix du Disque for "Vous qui passez sans me voir", a song which had been written for him by Charles Trenet and Johnny Hess. That year, Sablon made his U.S. debut, singing on live radio broadcasts for CBS and making recordings. Considered the French equivalent of Bing Crosby, his records sold in the millions worldwide, and Sablon recorded with some of the world's top musicians, including Django Reinhardt. Lightly creased and soiled. Minor stains touch the "L" of Lionel. Binding holes at blank right margin. Overall, fine condition.