"March 8 to 5...aw ya damn bastards" - Edwin H. HamptonToday is a sad day in the city of New Orleans, one of its greatest Mardi Gras legends is no more... Edwin H. Hampton, founder of the St. Aug Marching 100 has passed away at the age of 81 after a lengthy illness. He has been the band director at St Aug since 1952 the year after the school opened.
I personally didnt go to the Aug (even though I always get associated with them), but my younger brother did and played in the band, So in an indirect way I had some interaction with him. "Hamp" as he was affectionately known has lead the band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York, the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. The band played at Pope John Paul's visit to New Orleans in 1987, at least 8 US Presidents and numerous Super Bowl appearences. But most importantly (to New Orleanians) the big boy Mardi Gras parades...Endymion, Bacchus, and Rex...
My fondest memories of Hamp were definitely the Good Friday fish fry at the school. It was always crowded and he always took the time out to speak to everyone there, even if you had a mouth full of food (or vice versa). He will definetly be missed by the Saint Augustine High School family, alumni, his beloved band members, and the 7th ward. He will miss all of them too. Its gonna be kinda strange goin to the Aug / 35 football game in a couple of weeks and not see him with that scowl on his face, but the legacy of Hamp will live on... This second line may be bigger than the one for Michael Jackson...LOL. I gotta be there for that one, and I dont even much like second lines like all that.
Posted by the Insomniaq..i might have to pick up my horn to see if I still got it
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