Article: Lionel Hampton and Boys Choir of Harlem receive National Medal of Arts Award; Rita Dove receives Charles Frankel prize.

"The show must go on."

Those were the words uttered by a true showman, Lionel Hampton, who despite having his Manhattan apartment destroyed by fire, still put in an appearance in the nation's capital to take his place among this year's 12 National Medal of Arts recipients.

The 88-year-old jazz legend's determination to be present during the regal ceremony at the U.S. Department of Commerce's Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium did not go unnoticed by President Clinton, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton or any of the other 600-700 guests who attended the ceremony.

"We're glad to see Lionel Hampton here safe and sound," said Clinton, who placed the ...

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