Hampton had been inspired by musical artists such as Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg and Stephen Stills, which led to his desire to learn guitar and explore songwriting...noting that "it’s prohibitively difficult to write a song on the drums."

He began seeking out opportunities in the Philadelphia music scene (which he had purposely avoided while playing cover material) and quickly made friends and established a reputation.

Already an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he found himself suddenly in demand for sideman and session work with other artists who were once his contemporaries as a songwriter within the local musical community.

He has also appeared occasionally with folksinger Tracy Grammer, and has played behind Craig Fuller of Pure Prairie League and Little Feat, and longtime personal guitar hero Paul Cotton of Poco at times.

He has also backed and performed with Poco, Pure Prairie League, Eric Andersen, Jonathan Edwards, Jim Photoglo, Vonda Sheppard, Don Henry, Julie Gold, Daryle Singletary and many others.

Malone, Dan May, Craig Bickhardt, and (co-producing along with Grammy winner Andy Kravitz) the debut album by legendary Philadelphia radio DJ Michael Tearson,[6] titled Stuff That Works.