Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Lee Konitz, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Golson are just a few of the 114 musicians to whom the National Endowment for the Arts has conferred the title of Jazz Master. The award, which is only given to living musicians, is the nation’s highest honor in the great American art form. Not surprisingly, most of the names on this prestigious list are horn players or vocalists, with rhythm section players getting the short end of the stick.

So what kind of a career does it take for a drummer to win this award? Well, if you’re Foreststorn “Chico” Hamilton, the accomplishments are numerous. With over 60 albums as a leader, many more as a sideman, and a track record spanning nearly 70 years, Hamilton has earned his place in the jazz pantheon.

“The one thing I’ve learned is what not to do,” said the 88-year-old drummer during a recent interview with DCist, speaking about his long career.

Hamilton’s musical journey began when he was still in school, playing with classmates Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, and Illinois Jacquet, all of whom went on to become jazz legends in their own right. After spending time on the big band circuit, playing with Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, the Los Angeles native eventually settled into a six-year stint with the wonderful Lena Horne.

“One disappointing thing to me is the fact that young black kids have no idea who Duke Ellington or Count Basie was,” Hamilton said while recalling his early days. “They have no idea about their heritage.”