LIONEL HAMPTON TO PRESENT DRAWING WINNER WITH A LIMITED EDITION ENGRAVED, AUTOGRAPH JAZZ WATCH

(New York, NY - June 18, 2000) -- Jazz legend Lionel Hampton, who began his musical career as a drummer with Louis Armstrong in 1930, will be the honored guest of the Louis Armstrong Centennial Exhibition at the Tourneau Center (57th St & Madison Avenue) on June 27 at 1:00 pm. He will present the lucky winner of a special drawing with one of the limited edition engraved, autographed and numbered watches created for him by Oris, the famed Swiss watch company.

The presentation, a joint arrangement with Oris and Tourneau in conjunction with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and the Louis Armstrong Archives is titled “Louis Armstrong: Making Every Minute Count," and will run in tandem with the Oris annual “Spirit of Jazz" concert series, co-sponsored by WBGO/Jazz 88.3 FM Radio, in celebration of the year-long Centennial of Satchmo's Birthday (which he insisted was July 4, 1900)*. The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, from 10 am to 6 pm.

This stunning exhibition of Louis Armstrong's rare and unique memorabilia, most of which has never been seen outside of the Armstrong Archives housed at Queens College, has been held over until August 31.

The guest performing artist that afternoon, from 12 to 2 pm, will be the well known jazz singer Jon Hendricks.

*Oris will also announce the production of a Louis Armstrong limited edition jazz watch, to be unveiled on August 4, 2001 Satchmo's actual birthday.