continue for more than two decades, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. proposed that Dizzy Gillespie form a big band to represent the U.S. as musical envoys. The State Department and the Eisenhower Administration agreed, and the group embarked for southern Europe and the Middle East in 1956. In 1960 and 1961, Lampkin toured with the quintet to the UK, France, Sweden, and Brazil. Starting in 1963, Lampkin joined the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Quintet and recorded Bossa Nova (1963) and Jazz for Breakfast at Tiffany's. The Ahmad Jamal Trio In 1963 Lampkin joined Ahmad Jamal and bassist Jamil Sulieman to form the Ahmad Jamal Trio. Three albums were produced: Naked City Theme, The Roar of the Greasepaint, and Macanudo. When earning a living as a jazz musician became a challenge, Lampkin turned his attention to television. On November 2, 1970, on WBEN-TV in Buffalo, New York, he became one of the first black men to present the nightly news in North America. Career in broadcast journalism (1970–1999) Chuck Lampkin presented the nightly news on WBEN TV (later WIVB TV) in Buffalo from 1970 until 1980 when he moved to WDSU-TV in New Orleans. He continued in this capacity until 1985 when he became director of telecommunications for Mayor Ernest Nathan Morial. In the early 90s, Lampkin created a television show called "Cookin with Soul" and tried, without success, to get it into syndication. From 1995, Lampkin presented the news for News 12 New Jersey, a cable channel, until he had a stroke in 1999. Death On February 10, 2003, Chuck Lampkin died of kidney failure and other ailments. His funeral was conducted on February 18 by Rev. Dale Lind at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan where the late Puerto Rican pastor John Gensil had started a Jazz vespers service in the 1960s. Lampkin was survived by his wife Gail Robichaux and a son and daughter from prior relationships. References External links Charles Lampkin 1934 births 2003 deaths ABC News personalities African-American journalists African-American television personalities American television journalists American jazz percussionists 20th-century American musicians 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American people