Col Bruce Hampton has passed away suddenly, one day after his 70th birthday.
Friends from across the music world were gathered in Atlanta to celebrate his life and musical legacy in honor of the milestone. While joining them on stage to cap a nearly four hour tribute concert, Hampton fell to the floor. Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, he passed away a short time later.
It was an outsized, bizarre and poetic exit for a man who personified all of those qualities. An influencer and teacher whose legacy will certainly be punctuated by the company he kept, surrounded by his beloved students, doing what they love right up until the end.
A seventieth birthday is a time to reflect. Words offered by his friends in the official Hampton 70 program have become even more poignant in light of Bruce's passing. From quotes to anecdotes to descriptions of the man from those who loved him, these should help put his life and work into perspective.
There is truly no other.
