Dawn Hampton

Early years

Dawn Hampton's family had a very musical background. Her father Clark Deacon Hampton, Sr. lead a family band comprising 12 children. The family left Ohio early on in her life and traveled through the country as the "Deacon Hampton and the Cotton Pickers" playing Ragtime, blues, dixieland and polka numbers. In 1938, the family settled in Indianapolis where the children got education from the McArthur School of Music. From the age of 3, Dawn worked with the family band and vaudeville act.

World War II

During World War II Dawn Hampton then founded a short-lived group called The Hamptonians together with her sisters Carmalita (died 1987), Aletra (1915–2007) and Virtue (born 1921). After the war she played with her brother Clark "Duke" Hampton's jazz band on saxophone. This band mainly toured the west and south of the US. In 1950 she also performed in New York's Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater and the infamous Savoy Ballroom. She also played in the house band of Cincinnati's Cotton Club. She then performed together with her sisters as The Hampton Sisters.

1950s

After World War II, the 9 remaining family members were part of a 14-piece group. Dawn played alto and tenor saxophones, sang and danced. In 1950, the band played at Carnegie Hall.

In 1958, the band broke up and Dawn moved to New York to start a career as a songwriter and cabaret singer. She soon became part of the off-Broadway production Greenwich Village, U.S.A. which resided at a musical theater called Bon Soir. A recording from this play exists.

1960s

In the early 1960s, Hampton had a long-term contract as a singer in the nightclub Lions Den. She suffered some damage to her vocal chords in 1964, but kept performing as a cabaret singer in New York for another 20 years, although she experienced a loss of vocal volume. She also increased her work as a songwriter. This is when she wrote her signature song Life Is What You Make It.

1970s

In 1972, Dawn appeared at the infamous Continental Baths where she performed with artists such as Cab Calloway, Bette Midler and Barry Manilow.

1980s

In 1989, Dawn collaborated with Mark Nadler, writing music and lyrics for the honky-tonk mini-opera Red Light which was given the Manhattan Association of Cabarets award in 1990. Dawn and Mark also collaborated on An Evening with Dawn Hampton which enjoyed an extended run at Don't Tell Mama. Dawn also wrote the music and lyrics for the play Madame C. J. Walker.

1990s

Along with Frankie Manning, she appeared in Spike Lee's movie Malcolm X (1992). Dawn danced with Sonny Allen in the movie.

Dawn has taught workshops all over the world including the Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden.

2000s

Dawn Hampton danced and sung at her 80th birthday gala in New York City.

2010s

In 2011, a documentary called "The Unforgettable Hampton Family" was published that featured the life of her family.

Awards