Documentary features Lindy Hop Legend Ms. Dawn Hampton and Hampton Family

Those in New York City should set your DVRs to catch "The Unforgettable Hampton Family," a new documentary by filmmaker Julie Cohen about an extraordinary African-american family of jazz musicians premiering on Thursday February 3 on WNET (Channel 13). The short film features musician/ singer/ dancer extraordinaire Ms. Dawn Hampton, a mainstay of the New York lindy hop community and frequent visitor at our Frim Fram Jam dances on Thursdays. 

Here's the synopsis of the documentary:

This African American family overcame poverty and prejudice to build successful musical careers. Deacon Clark Hampton taught himself to read the works of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, to paint, and to play numerous musical instruments. Clark dreamed of lifting his twelve children out of poverty by making them performers. Some eventually played the Savoy, the Apollo, even Carnegie Hall — sometimes alongside Lionel Hampton, a distant cousin.

It premieres this Thursday, February 3, at 10:30pm on WNET channel 13 in New York City. Check Thirteen.org for other showtimes. No word on if this documentary will be airing elsewhere at press time. I can't wait to see it!

[Photo courtesy of Will Luong.]