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IN PRAISE OF LIONEL HAMPTON

During his seven decades as an internationally known musician, Lionel Hampton thrilled audiences with his fast-moving fingers and his unique way of grunting and groaning and moaning as he "sang" along with his work. He was able to take a little-known instrument, the vibraphone -- most often heard as a "comedy" effect on radio programs -- and turn it into a respected instrument in the jazz world. Born in Kentucky, raised in Wisconsin, CNN says that it was a music-loving nun at a school in Kenosha who first taught him to play drums and brought the excitement of music into his life. One of Hampton's first thrills was getting to play drums in a band fronted by his idol, Louis Armstrong. That was back in 1929. It was during a session with Satchmo that the great trumpeter pointed to a vibraphone in the corner of the room and asked Hampton if he knew anything about it. Hampton tinkered and mastered the instrument. Later he would perform the first vibraphone solo ever recorded, in a session with Eubie Blake. But it was in 1936 that Hampton helped make musical history in another way. It was when he was asked to join the Benny Goodman Trio and turn it into the Benny Goodman Quartet. The aggregation marked the first time that black and white musicians had officially performed together. Over the years he became one of the jazz world's most-loved musicians. Now "Hamp" is gone. He was nearly the last of an era. Lionel Hampton was 94.

LATEST POTTER BOOK STILL IN THE OVEN

Where is the long-promised fifth installment in the projected seven-book "Harry Potter" series? That's what a lot of people would like to know. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Chauncey Mabe, the creator of the concept -- J.K. Rowling -- has missed two deadlines for the latest book. The initial promised date for publication of book number five passed last fall. A second missed deadline was in July. Meanwhile, the fifth book is already on shelves in China, but it's not the real McCoy. A rip-off book, bearing Rowling's photo and her byline, has become a runaway best seller. According to Mabe, the plot is distinctively Asian with some Chinese plot twists that it's likely Rowling would have never thought of. Meanwhile, the first four books have revitalized the publishing house that's been printing them and money continues to pour in from international showings and renting of the Harry Potter movie. If Rowling continues to miss her deadline the young actor who plays Harry will be out of college and sporting a beard and moustache before the films are finished.

NOMINEES FOR CHRISTIAN ARTISTS NAMED

Mainstream singers Alan Jackson and Martina McBride are among the nominees for this year's annual Christian Country Music Awards. The Country Music Association's list was announced for the eighth annual awards. Jackson received 10 nominations in the overall competition; two of the nominations were in the Christian music category. Jackson's mega patriotic hit "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?" was nominated for song of the year and the video of the year. McBride's "Blessed" was also nominated. Long-standing star Merle Haggard was nominated in the Christian section for his duo work with Chester Smith. Charlie Daniels was nominated for musician of the year. The awards will take place in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in early November.

TILLIS DEBUTS NEW ALBUM

Second-generation country star Pam Tillis has unveiled her latest CD, "It's All Relative -- Tillis Sings Tillis." All of the songs in the compilation were either hits for her father, Mel Tillis, or were his creations. The announcement of the new CD was made at an informal dinner, hosted by the younger Tillis, for a large group of family and friends. Pam sang a few songs from the CD. At one point she managed to convince her dad to join her in a couple of songs, including his big hit "Burning Memories." The album is due for release on Sept. 3.

MAN SURVIVES 10,000-FOOT UNGUIDED FALL

Canadian health officials say they are closely monitoring the vital signs of a would-be skydiver who was involved in one of those freak accidents where "everything went wrong." The 40-year-old sportsman -- from Richmond Hill, Canada -- was standing on a wing spar of a light plane, preparing to jump. A sudden gust of wind opened his chute and violently pulled him from his perch. He apparently struck his head on part of the plane during the incident and was knocked unconscious. Because he was not aware of what had happened, the man was unable to guide the parachute nor to be able to position himself properly for impact with the ground. It's estimated that he "landed" at nearly 20 mph on the rough surface of a stone quarry. It took rescuers over seven hours to locate him because as he drifted unguided, friends on the ground lost track of his trajectory. He was finally found in the middle of the night by using tracker dogs. Doctors say the man had severe head injuries and multiple broken bones, but miraculously survived.

LARRY KING'S 45 YEARS CELEBRATED

It's hard to believe that we've heard and watched Larry King for so many years. I first met him as a chain-smoking host of a late-night radio show on the old Mutual Broadcasting System. I was a producer for MBS and assisted in the show many times. I often brought chili to the broadcast. At the time, the talk show was aired on a paltry 28 stations. Few, outside of the Miami area (where he was once a commentator for the Dolphins), knew who Larry King was. The show as so off-the-wall at the time that I sometimes appeared as a guest, using funny voices. Then a local CBS affiliate (WTOP) began airing the show and Larry King's career changed forever. It seems that no one wanted to travel to a high-rise office building on the fringes of National Airport at two in the morning to be on a talk show, particularly with a host no one had heard of and on a show you could not hear locally. When WTOP began airing the broadcast, every insomniac in Washington began calling to ask if he or she could be a guest. This led to a procession of notables from Capitol Hill coming over and finally a chance to move the show over to CNN. And, as they say, the rest is history. A string of publicized marriages and a near-fatal heart attack later, Larry King continues to be the English-speaking world's best known interviewer. Check out CNN.com and you'll find a great look at Larry's career, including short clips of interviews with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Madonna to Richard Nixon. If I could figure out how to sneak in during one of his shows I'd bring him more chili.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 407

Today's question, on this Labor Day, is: "What was the best or most fun job you've ever had?" Put BEST in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 402 (CLEAN)

Last week we asked what three things you would clear from your desk were you told that a trio of things had to go. First of all, let me respond to Anne N who said she would resign were she told to clean her desk. Anne, I fully agree. I am so much on a soapbox about meddling supervisors I could spit. Additionally, if I ever were a manager I would call each employee into my office, one at a time. I'd ask each if he or she knew the contents of my desk. If they said "no" I would discipline them for not being curious. Back to "cleaning" responses. Amanda says that "a bunch of disks, a candle and some old records" would be the first to go. Nok N (a new respondent; thanks for writing) notes that the things to toss out would be "a fake gold paperweight (too heavy to lift with one hand), a non-working Liquid Paper eraser and a small colorful paperclip dispenser that's 'too generous.'" Huggiepoo could do without her inbox, radio and her envelope/paper organizer. Finally, Melba would throw everything out but her can of anti-bug spray. You see, her area is under a West Nile virus alert. OUCH! TOMORROW: More from you'all. GBA.