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CNN Saturday Morning News

Former Presidents Bush, Clinton to Speak at Lionel Hampton Memorial

Aired September 07, 2002 - 08:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The music of Lionel Hampton. We're going to take you now back to New York, where a parade and memorial service this morning is being held to honor that jazz great. Among those to speak, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.
CNN's Kyra Phillips is standing by what looked like, a minute ago, in the middle of the street there in New York where people are filing in already for this.

He was dearly loved, wasn't he?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, he sure was, Catherine. And, you know, this is so typical, you know, it's on New Orleans time, as we say. The second line parade has started at the Cotton Club. Now, if you're wondering what a second line parade is, well, it's the jazz musicians' way of saying their brother is on their way to heaven. There ain't no crying around here, is what everybody's saying, and you're going to hear the music very soon.

Musician Wynton Marsalis is leading that parade. We were hoping to bring it to you right now, but we're waiting on it. And when it does happen, we will bring it to you.

But meanwhile, we're here at the Riverside Church in Harlem. Lionel was very involved in this community. Not only was he a jazz great, but he did so much for the kids of Harlem. He built low income housing, and this comes way back from when he learned how to play the drums from the nuns, from the Blessed, Sisters of Blessed Sacrament, and that was back in Wisconsin.

He, these nuns had such an influence on his life because he lost his parents at a young age and they noticed that he had a gift. And he even told me back when I met him a number of years ago, those nuns told me that I had a gift. I need to be thankful for it. I needed to thank god and then I needed to go back and ask for more.

He was a very faithful man, very involved in the community, and, of course, made a tremendous impact on a number of musicians -- Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, all of these people had been impacted by Lionel Hampton.

So today, inside the church, Lionel Hampton's orchestra is going to play with a number of special guests. Wynton Marsalis, after leaving the second line, will be playing the trumpet and honoring Lionel's life. And like you said, former President George Bush will be making remarks. Lionel always told me about, as a matter of fact, we got the motorcade coming in right now. You might be able to catch it. The president will be arriving, former president, any moment now. Here is the Secret Service. They're getting ready to come in right now, as a matter of fact.

Let me tell you, Lionel told me one time how much he loved playing for the president and it goes all the way back to Prescott Bush. I mean he knew all the Bushes. He knew the Bush family. He played at the White House a number of times, even all the way back to Truman and the days of his presidency.

So anyway, a lot to talk about, Lionel, from music to human rights, to a man who really fought racism and said to all of us, I ain't got time for no discrimination, and he touched all of us with his music and his words.

We're going to come back in the next hour with more on Lionel Hampton's funeral -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Kyra, you know, Kyra, this is really a celebration of his life today, isn't it?

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is, very much so. I mean that's the neat thing about a second line parade and a jazz funeral is it's about honoring the individual and not being down and not being upset. Everybody here is up. Last night people were up late toasting Lionel. The champagne, you can just imagine.

CALLAWAY: Yes, right.

PHILLIPS: His music and life is very infectious.

CALLAWAY: And he -- yes. And he contributed so much. He lived a great life. He was, what, 94, you know, when he passed away?

PHILLIPS: That's right.

CALLAWAY: He lived a full life. My question is are we going to see former President Bill Clinton raise the old saxophone or...

PHILLIPS: Well, you know how these politicians are. You know, they don't always give up very much information. Clinton did play the sax with Lionel, as he played the vibes, at the White House not too long ago, as a matter of fact.

CALLAWAY: Right.

PHILLIPS: Just a few years ago. And once again, we're seeing the motorcades come in, and you know what that means. It means presidential arrival.

CALLAWAY: Right.

PHILLIPS: So things are getting going. They're about to happen.

CALLAWAY: All right.

PHILLIPS: They loved Lionel, too. What can I say?

CALLAWAY: They did.

And we'll be back with you in just a little bit.

Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Catherine.

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