Earl Hines
Photo of musician Earl Hines (with Pvt. Charles Carpenter) during World War II
Background information
Born	December 28, 1903 (1903-12-28) Duquesne, Pennsylvania
Died	April 23, 1983 (aged 79) Oakland, California
Genre(s)	Swing, Big band music
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Piano

Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, (28 December 1903^[1] Duquesne, Pennsylvania – 22 April 1983 in Oakland, California) was one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States ^[2]

Early life

Earl Hines was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Duquesne, Pennsylvania. Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan His father was a cornetist and leader of Pittsburgh's Eureka Brass Band,^[3] his stepmother a church organist. The cornet is a Brass instrument very similar to the Trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape and mellower tone quality An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or Orchestra, or accompany ^[4] Hines at first intended to follow his father's example and play cornet but "blowing" hurt him behind the ears — while the piano didn't. ^[5][6] He took classical piano lessons but also developed an ear for popular show tunes and was able to remember and play songs he heard in theaters. ^[7] Hines claimed that he was playing piano around Pittsburgh "before the word 'jazz' was even invented".

Early career

At the age of 17, Hines moved away from home to take a job playing with Lois Deppe & his Serenaders in the "Liederhaus", a Pittsburgh nightclub, for 2 meals a day and $15 a week. ^[8]. ^[9] Deppe was a well-known baritone who had boasted a concert career. Hines' first recordings were with this band — four sides recorded with Gennett Records in 1923. Gennett (pronounced with a soft G) was a United States based Record label which flourished in the 1920s. ^[10] Only two of these were issued, and only one, a Hines composition, "Congaine", "a keen snappy foxtrot",^[11] featured any solo work by Hines. Hines entered the studio again with Deppe a month later, recording spirituals and popular songs. In 1925 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, then the world's "jazz" capital, home (at the time) to Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton ( ca September 20, 1885 or October 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941) was an Joe "King" Oliver, ( December 19, 1885 &ndash April 10, 1938) was a Jazz Cornet player and Bandleader He played piano with Carroll Dickerson's band (including a nationwide tour on the Pantages circuit) and made his first acquaintance with Louis Armstrong. Carroll Dickerson (c 1895&ndashOctober 1957 was a Chicago and New York -based Dixieland Jazz Violinist and Bandleader Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter

Armstrong and Hines became good friends and got jobs playing together in Dickerson's band at the Sunset Cafe. In 1927 this became Louis Armstrong's band under the direction of Hines. ^[12] Armstrong had already been astounded by Hines's avant-garde "trumpet-style" piano-playing, often using dazzlingly fast octaves so that on none-too-perfect upright pianos (and with no amplification) "they could hear me out front" - and indeed they could. ^[13][14] That year Armstrong revamped his Okeh Records recording band, "Louis Armstrong's Hot Five", and replaced his wife Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano with Hines. Okeh Records began as an Independent record label based in the United States of America in Lil Hardin Armstrong (born Lillian Hardin ( February 3 1898 – August 27 1971) was a Jazz Pianist, Composer Armstrong and Hines then recorded what are often regarded as some of the most important jazz records ever made, most famously their 1928 trumpet and piano duet Weatherbird. From The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD:^[15]

. . . with Earl Hines arriving on piano, Armstrong was already approaching the stature of a concerto soloist, a role he would play more or less throughout the next decade, which makes these final small-group sessions something like a reluctant farewell to jazz's first golden age. Since Hines is also magnificent on these discs (and their insouciant exuberance is a marvel on the duet showstopper "Weather Bird") the results seem like eavesdropping on great men speaking almost quietly among themselves. There is nothing in jazz finer or more moving than the playing on "West End Blues", "Tight Like This", "Beau Koo Jack" & "Muggles".

Hines also recorded 14 solos that same year, 1928. (57 Varieties referred to his native Pittsburgh's H. J. Heinz Company's slogan, My Monday Date was an inside joke between Hines, Armstrong, and Armstrong's wife. Hines was to re-explore these solo recordings 45 years later^[16]: see discography). After the Sunset Club closed, Armstrong and drummer Zutty Singleton ended up at the Savoy Theatre while Hines was in New York, and when he returned to Chicago, Hines ended up in Jimmie Noone's band at the Apex Club. Arthur James "Zutty" Singleton ( 14 May, 1898 - 14 July, 1975) was an influential American early Jazz Drummer The Savoy Ballroom in Chicago, United States was opened on Thanksgiving Eve November 23 1927 at 4733 South Parkway Jimmie Noone (or Jimmy Noone; born April 23 1895 in Cut Off Louisiana &ndash died April 19 1944 in Los Angeles ^[17]

Chicago years

In 1928 (and on his 25th birthday) the always-immaculate Hines began leading his own 'big band', the pinnacle of jazz ambition at the time. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late For over 10 years his was "The Band" in Al Capone's Grand Terrace Cafe — Hines was Capone's "Mr Piano Man". Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone (January 17 1899 &ndash January 25 1947 commonly nicknamed Scarface, was an Italian American Gangster who Hines recorded for Victor in 1929, for Brunswick from 1932-1934, for Decca from 1934-1935, for Vocalion from 1937-1938 and for Bluebird from 1939-1942 (nearly all among the best Black Jazz of the era). Victor (also spelled Viktor or Vítor) is a male name that has been used for centuries in numerous cultures and parts of the world Brunswick Records is a United States based Record label. The label is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment. Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Vocalion Records was a Record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. The bluebirds are medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous Birds in the genus Sialia of the thrush family Turdidae From the Grand Terrace, The Earl Hines Orchestra (or "Organization" as he more happily referred to it) broadcast on "open mikes", sometimes seven nights a week and over many years, coast to coast across America — Chicago being well placed to deal with the U. S. live-broadcasting time-zone problem. Hines's band became the most broadcast band in America. Among his listeners was a young Jay McShann in Kansas City who said his ". Jay McShann ( January 12 1916 – December 7 2006) was an American Blues and swing Pianist, . . real education came from Earl Hines. When 'Fatha' went off the air, I went to bed”. ^[18] Hines became very influential to young artists in the area; most notable was young pianist Jess Stacy who Hines allowed to play in his place when the mood suited him. Jess Stacy ( August 11, 1904 – January 1, 1995) was an American jazz pianist who became famous during the Swing Era ^[19] Sometimes Nat "King" Cole^[20] was Hines's relief pianist (though Cliff Smalls was his favorite) and it was here with Hines that Charlie Parker got his first professional job. Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician . . until he was fired for his time-keeping — by which Hines meant Parker's inability to show up on time despite Parker resorting to sleeping under the Grand Terrace stage in his attempts to do so. It was during the 1940s (especially during the 1942-1945 recording ban) that members of the Hines' band's late-night jam-sessions laid the seeds for the upcoming Bebop revolution. Hines led his big band until 1947, taking time out to front the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1944 while Duke was ill. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. . . but the big-band era was over. (Thirty years later, Hines's 20 solo "transformative versions" of his "Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington" recorded in the 1970s were described by Ben Ratliff in the "New York Times" as "as good an example of the jazz process as anything out there". ^[21])

Rediscovery

From left: Jack Teagarden, Sandy DeSantis, Velma Middleton, Fraser MacPherson, Cozy Cole, Arvell Shaw, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard. Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden ( August 20, 1905 &ndash January 15, 1964) was an influential Jazz Trombonist and Velma Middleton (c 1917&ndash 10 February 1961) was an American Jazz vocalist born in St John Fraser MacPherson CM ( 10 April 1928 - 27 September 1993) was a Canadian jazz musician born in St Cozy Cole ( October 17 1909 – January 31 1981) was a jazz drummer who scored a #1 hit with the record Arvell Shaw (Septermber 15 1923 St Louis Missouri - December 5 2002 Roosevelt New York) was an American Jazz Double-bassist best known Albany Leon Bigard ( March 3, 1906 &ndash June 27, 1980) aka Barney Bigard, was an American Jazz Clarinetist At the Palomar Supper Club, March 17, 1951.

At the start of 1949 Hines rejoined Armstrong (rather, he came to feel, as a "sideman") in Armstrong's "small band", the "All Stars" (most of whom had been famous big-band leaders), and stayed, now not entirely happily, through 1951. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Next, as leader again, he took his own small combos around the States and Europe but, at the start of the jazz-lean 1960s and old enough now to retire and take up bowling,^[22] he settled "home" in Oakland, California, opened a tobacconist's, and came close to giving up the profession. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U

Then, in 1964 (and thanks to Stanley Dance, his determined friend and unofficial "manager"), Hines was "suddenly rediscovered" following a series of "recitals" at The Little Theatre in New York that Dance had "bullied" him into. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. They were the first piano "recitals" Hines - always thinking of himself as "just a band pianist"^[23] - had ever given. The "recitals" caused a sensation. "What is there left to hear after you've heard Earl Hines?", asked the New York Times. ^[24] Hines then won the 1966 "International Critics Poll" for Down Beat Magazine's "Hall of Fame". Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Down Beat is an American Magazine devoted to "jazz blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively Down Beat also elected him the world's "No 1 Jazz Pianist" in 1966 (and were to do so again five further times). Down Beat is an American Magazine devoted to "jazz blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively Jazz Journal awarded his LP's of the year first and second in their overall poll and first, second and third in their piano category. ^[25] Jazz voted him "Jazzman of the Year", voted him their no. 1 and no. 2 in their piano recordings category and he was on Johnny Carson's and Mike Douglas' TV shows.

From then until he died twenty years later Hines recorded endlessly both solo and with jazz notables like Cat Anderson, Harold Ashby, Barney Bigard, Lawrence Brown, Jaki Byard (they recorded duets in 1972), Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Cozy Cole, Wallace Davenport, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Vic Dickenson, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington (duets in 1966), Ella Fitzgerald, Panama Francis, Bud Freeman, Dizzie Gillespie, Paul Gonsalves, Stephane Grappelli, Sonny Greer, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Jonah Jones, Gene Krupa, Ellis Larkins, Marian McPartland (duets in 1970), Ray Nance, Oscar Peterson (duets in 1968), Russell Procope, Pee Wee Russell, Jimmy Rushing, Stuff Smith, Rex Stewart, Maxine Sullivan, Buddy Tate, Jack Teagarden, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Venuti, Earle Warren, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson (duets in 1965 & 1970), Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy Woode and Lester Young. William Alonzo Anderson, known as Cat Anderson ( 12 September 1916 &ndash 29 April 1981) was an American Jazz Harold Ashby ( March 21, 1925 in Kansas City – June 13, 2003 in New York City) was a jazz tenor saxophonist Albany Leon Bigard ( March 3, 1906 &ndash June 27, 1980) aka Barney Bigard, was an American Jazz Clarinetist Lawrence Brown ( August 3 1907 - September 5, 1988) was a Jazz Trombonist from Kansas. Jaki (John Byard ( June 15, 1922 in Worcester Massachusetts – February 11, 1999 in New York City) was an American Bennett Lester Carter (born August 8, 1907 in Harlem New York; died July 12, 2003 in Los Angeles California) was Buck Clayton (born Wilbur Dorsey Clayton in Parsons Kansas on November 12, 1911 -died in New York City on December 8 Cozy Cole ( October 17 1909 – January 31 1981) was a jazz drummer who scored a #1 hit with the record Wallace Foster Davenport ( 30 June, 1925 - 18 March, 2004) was a United States Jazz Trumpeter. Edward Davis ( March 2, 1922 &ndash November 3, 1986) who performed and recorded as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American Vic (Victor Dickenson ( August 6, 1906 - November 16, 1984) was an African-American Jazz Trombonist. Roy David Eldridge ( January 30, 1911 &ndash February 26, 1989) nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential David "Panama" Francis ( December 21 1918 in Miami Florida – November 13, 2001 in Orlando Florida) was an Lawrence "Bud" Freeman ( April 13, 1906 in Chicago Illinois - March 15, 1991 in Chicago was a U John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Paul Gonsalves, ( -) was an American Jazz tenor saxophonist. Gonsalves made his name at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival with an arresting 27-chorus Stéphane Grappelli ( January 26 1908 &ndash December 1 1997) was a French Jazz Violinist who founded the Sonny Greer ( 13 December 1895 &ndash 23 March 1982) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist Coleman Randolph Hawkins ( November 21 1904 - May 19 1969) Nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean" was a prominent John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges ( 25 July, 1906 in Cambridge, Massachusetts – 11 May, 1970) was an American Not to be confused with Buddy Johnson. Budd Johnson was a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist best known as a "behind-the-scenes player" and writer Jonah Jones (born Robert Elliott Jones on December 31, 1909 in Louisville Kentucky; died April 29, 2000 in New York City Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer Ellis Larkins ( 15 May 1923 &ndash 30 September 2002) was an African-American Jazz pianist born in Baltimore Marian McPartland (b March 20, 1918) born Margaret Marian Turner in Slough England, is a Jazz Pianist, Composer Ray Willis Nance ( December 10, 1913 Chicago - January 28 1976 in New York City) was a Jazz Trumpeter Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, CC, CQ, OOnt ( 15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007) was a Canadian Russell Procope ( 11 August 1908 &ndash 21 January 1981) an American Clarinettist and alto saxophonist, was known Charles Ellsworth Russell, much better known by his Nickname Pee Wee Russell, ( 27 March, 1906 - 15 February, 1969) was James Andrew Rushing ( August 26, 1903 - June 8, 1972) (known as Jimmy Rushing) was an American Blues shouter Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith ( August 14, 1909 - September 25, 1967) better known as Stuff Smith, was a Jazz Violinist Rex Stewart ( 22 February 1907 &ndash 7 September 1967) was an American Jazz Cornetist best known for his work Maxine Sullivan ( May 13 1911 — April 7 1987) was an American Blues and Jazz Singer. Buddy Tate can refer to Buddy Tate (American football, an American football player Buddy Tate (musician, a jazz musician Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden ( August 20, 1905 &ndash January 15, 1964) was an influential Jazz Trombonist and Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920) nicknamed Mumbles, is a Grammy Award-winning American swing and bop Trumpeter, a Sarah Lois Vaughan (nicknamed " Sassy " and " The Divine One ") ( March 27 1924, &ndash April Giuseppe (Joe Venuti ( September 16 1903 &ndash August 14, 1978) was a U Earle Warren (1914-1995 was an alto saxophonist and occasional singer with Count Basie. Benjamin Francis Webster ( March 27 1909 &ndash September 20 1973) aka " The Brute " or " Frog," was an Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson ( November 24 1912 &ndash July 31 1986) was a jazz pianist from the United States Jimmy Witherspoon ( August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American Blues singer Jimmy Woode (born Philadelphia 23 September 1926 (or 1927 - died Lindenwold New Jersey 23 April 2005 was a jazz bassist. Lester Willis Young ( August 27, 1909 &ndash March 15, 1959) nickname 'Prez' was an American Jazz tenor Saxophonist Possibly more surprising were Alvin Batiste, Teresa Brewer, Elvin Jones, Etta Jones, The Inkspots, Peggy Lee, Helen Merrill, Charles Mingus, Vi Redd, Dinah Washington—and "Ditty Wah Ditty" and "The Pearls" with Ry Cooder. Alvin Batiste ( November 7, 1932 &ndash May 6, 2007) was an Avant garde Jazz Clarinetist born in New Orleans Teresa Brewer ( May 7, 1931 &ndash October 17, 2007) was an American pop and jazz Singer who was one of the most popular Elvin Ray Jones ( 9 September 1927 &ndash 18 May 2004) was one of the most influential jazz drummers of the Post-bop era Etta Jones ( November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American Jazz Singer whose critical success and relative The Ink Spots were a popular black vocal group that helped define the Musical genre that led to Rhythm & blues and Rock and roll, and the subgenre Peggy Lee ( May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American Jazz and popular music singer and Songwriter Helen Merrill Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milcetic on July 21, 1930 in New York City) is an internationally known Jazz Charles Mingus ( 22 April 1922 &ndash 5 January 1979) was an American Jazz Bassist, Composer, Dinah Washington ( August 29, 1924 &ndash December 14, 1963) was a Blues, R&B and Jazz singer Ryland "Ry" Peter Cooder (born 15 March 1947, in Los Angeles, California) is an American Guitarist, Singer, and But his most acclaimed recordings of this period were his endlessly inventive solo performances, "a whole orchestra by himself". ^[26] Whitney Balliett wrote of his solo recordings and performances of this time:

Hines will be sixty-seven this year and his style has become involuted, rococo, and subtle to the point of elusiveness. It unfolds in orchestral layers and it demands intense listening. Despite the sheer mass of notes he now uses, his playing is never fatty. Hines may go along like this in a medium tempo blues. He will play the first two choruses softly and out of tempo, unreeling placid chords that safely hold the kernel of the melody. By the third chorus, he will have slid into a steady but implied beat and raised his volume. Then, using steady tenths in his left hand, he will stamp out a whole chorus of right-hand chords in between beats. He will vault into the upper register in the next chorus and wind through irregularly placed notes, while his left hand plays descending, on-the-beat, chords that pass through a forest of harmonic changes. (There are so many push-me, pull-you contrasts going on in such a chorus that it is impossible to grasp it one time through. ) In the next chorus—bang!—up goes the volume again and Hines breaks into a crazy-legged double-time-and-a-half run that may make several sweeps up and down the keyboard and that are punctuated by offbeat single notes in the left hand. Then he will throw in several fast descending two-fingered glissandos, go abruptly into an arrhythmic swirl of chords and short, broken, runs and, as abruptly as he began it all, ease into an interlude of relaxed chords and poling single notes. But these choruses, which may be followed by eight or ten more before Hines has finished what he has to say, are irresistible in other ways. Each is a complete creation in itself, and yet each is lashed tightly to the next. Hines' sudden changes in dynamics, tempo, and texture are dramatic but not melodramatic; the ham lurking in the middle distance never gets any closer. And Hines is a perfervid pianist; he gives the impression that he has shut himself up completely within his instrument, that he is issuing chords and runs and glisses not merely through its keyboard and hammers and strings but directly from its soul. ^[27]

Solo tributes to Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Cole Porter were all put on record in the 1970s, sometimes on the 1904 12-legged Steinway (unique and famously ornate) given to him in 1969 by Scott Newhall, managing editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Hoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael (November 22 1899 – December 27 1981 was an American Composer, Pianist, singer actor and bandleader Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. George Gershwin (September 26 1898 &ndash July 11 1937 was an American Composer. Cole Albert Porter (June 9 1891 &ndash October 15 1964 was an American Composer and songwriter from Peru, Indiana. In 1974, so now in his seventies, Hines recorded sixteen LPs. "A spate of solo recording meant that, in his old age, Hines was being comprehensively documented at last, and he rose to the challenge with consistent inspirational force". ^[28] Between his 1964 "come-back" and up to when he died, Hines recorded approximately 90 LPs all over the world. Within the industry he became famous for going into a studio and coming out an hour-and-a-half later with a completed 'solo' LP behind him including discussion and coffee time - and ideally a brandy or two. Retakes were almost unheard of except when Hines wanted to try a tune again in some, often completely, "other way". Pianist Lennie Tristano said, "Earl Hines is the ONLY one of us capable of creating real jazz and real swing when playing all alone. Leonard Joseph Tristano ( 19 March[[ 919]] - 18 November[[ 978]] was a Jazz Pianist and Composer. " To Horace Silver, "He has a completely unique style. Horace Silver (born September 2, 1928) born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva in Norwalk Connecticut, is an American Jazz pianist No one can get that sound, no other pianist". To Count Basie, Hines was "The greatest piano player in the world". William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist ^[29] In 1968 Hines toured South America, again toured Europe (especially France) and now added Asia, Australia, Japan and the Soviet Union to his list of State Department–funded destinations. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 (During his 6-week Soviet Union tour, the 10,000-seater Kiev Sports Palace was sold out. As a result, the Kremlin cancelled his Moscow and Leningrad concerts ("Reds Change Hines Tour"^[30]) as being "too culturally dangerous". View01jpg|thumb|right|250px|Remains of the Kolomna Kremlin]] Kremlin (Кремль Kreml) is the Russian word for "fortress" "citadel" or "castle" )^[31]

Arguably playing better now than he ever had, Hines displayed, too, endearing quirks (not to say grunts of which Glenn Gould would have surely been proud) in these performances. Glenn Herbert Gould At a young age he reportedly behaved differently from typical children at the piano he would strike single notes and listen to their long decay Sometimes he sang as he played, especially his own "They Never Believed I Could Do It—Neither Did I". In 1975 he made an hour-long "solo" film for British TV out-of-hours in a Washington nightclub: the "New York Herald Tribune" described it as "The greatest jazz film ever made". He played solo in The White House and played solo for the Pope—and played (and sang) his last show a few days before he died in Oakland, quite likely somewhat older than he had always maintained. As he had wished, his Steinway had a very much "All Star" Christie's auction for the benefit of gifted low-income music students, still bearing its silver plaque: "presented by jazz lovers from all over the world. this piano is the only one of its kind in the world and expresses the great genius of a man who has never played a melancholy note in his lifetime on a planet that has often succumbed to despair".

On his tombstone is the inscription: "piano man".

Selected discography

Pre-end WWII and therefore including Big Band era:-

• Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines: inc. 'Weatherbird','Muggles','Tight Like This','West End Blues' : Columbia 1928: reissued many times inc. as The Smithsonian Collection MLP 2012
• Jimmie Noone & Earl Hines: "At the Apex Club": Decca 1928: reissued
• Earl Hines Solo: 14 of his own compositions: QRS & OKeh: 1928/9: reissued many times
• Earl Hines Collection: Piano Solos 1928-40: OKeh/Brunswick/Bluebird: Collectors Classics
• The Indispensable Earl Hines: Vols 1, 2, 3 & 4 [also 5 & 6 @ later dates] Jazz Tribune/BMG 1929-1939
• Earl Hines & His Grand Terrace Orchestra: 'Piano Man' etc 1939-1945: RCA Bluebird: reissued many times

Post-WWII & post-Big Band era:-

• Louis Armstrong & The All Stars: Decca 1950 & 1951: reissued
• Paris One Night Stand: Verve/Emarcy France 1957
• The Real Earl Hines: [1st 'Rediscovery' concert @ Little Theatre NY 1964] Focus & Collectibles Jazz Classics: reissued
• Earl Hines: The Legendary Little Theatre Concert [2nd 'Rediscovery' concert]: Muse 1964
• Earl Hines: Blues in Thirds: solo: Black Lion 1965
• Once Upon a Time [with Ellington side-men]: Verve 1966
• Jazz from a Swinging Era [with All-Star group in Paris]: Fontana 1967
• Earl Hines: At Home: solo: Delmark 1969
• Earl Hines: My Tribute to Louis: solo: Audiophile 1971 [recorded 2 weeks after Armstrong's death]
• Earl Hines plays Duke Ellington: vols 1 & 2: solo: New World 1971-1975
• Earl Hines: Hines plays Hines: The Australian Sessions: solo: Swaggie 1972
• Earl Hines: Tour de Force & Tour de Force Encore: solo: Black Lion 1972
• Earl Hines: Live at the New School: solo: Chiarascuro 1973
• Earl Hines: The Quintessential Recording Session: solo: Chiaroscuro 1973 [remakes of 1928/9 solo QRS piano roll recordings]
• Earl Hines: In New Orleans: solo: Chiarascuro 1977

Compilations:-

• The Complete Master Jazz Piano Series MD4 140 [with Jay McShann, Teddy Wilson, Cliff Smalls etc] 1969-1974
• That's a Plenty, Quadromania series: Membran 4CDs 2006

Notes

References

• Balliett, Whitney (1986/1996). "American Musicians ll: 72 Portraits in Jazz". Oxord University Press, New York & Oxford. ISBN 0-19-512116-3
• Balliett, Whitney (2000). "Collected Works: A Journal of Jazz 1954-2000". Granta Books, London. ISBN 1-86207-465-8
• Berliner, Paul F. (1994). "Thinking in Jazz: The Infinite Art of Improvisation". University of Chicago Press. Chocago & London ISBN 0-226-04381-9
• Clarke, Donald (1989, 2005). Hines, Earl. MusicWeb Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved August 1, 2006. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• Dance, Stanley (1983). The World of Earl Hines. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80182-5
• Dempsey, Peter (2001). Earl Hines. Naxos Jazz Legends. Retrieved July 23, 2006. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• Epstein, Daniel Mark (1999). Nat 'King' Cole. Farrar, Strauss & Giroux. New York. ISBN 0374219125
• Feather, Leonard (1960). Encyclopedia of Jazz, The. Horizon Press. ISBN 0-8180-1203-X
• Earl "Fatha" Hines. The Red Hot Jazz Archive. Retrieved July 23, 2006. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• Palmer, Robert (1981). "Pop Jazz; Fatha Hines Stom[p]ing and Chomping on at 75", The New York Times, August 28, 1981. Retrieved from The New York Times July 30, 2006 ISBN 0 8050-7068-0
• "The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD". Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Cook, Richard & Morton, Brian (2004). Seventh Edition. London & New York. ISBN 0-141-01416-4
• Ratliff, Ben (2002), "The New York Times Essential Library: Jazz". Times Books. New York. ISBN 0-8050-7068-0
• Schuller, Gunther (1991). The Swing Era: The Development of Jazz, 1930-1945, pp 263-292. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507140-9
• Simon, George T. (1974). The Big Bands. Macmillan.
• Taylor, Jeffrey (2005) Earl "Fatha" Hines: Selected Piano Solos, 1928-41. Volume 15 in Music of the United States of America. Madison, Wisconsin: American Musicological Society/A-R Editions, 2005 . ISBN 0895795809
• Taylor, Jeffrey (2002) “Earl Hines and ‘Rosetta. ’” Current Musicology: Special Issue, A Commemorative Festschrift in Honor of Mark Tucker. 71-73 (Spring 2001-Spring 2002).
• Taylor, Jeffrey (2002) "Life With Fatha. " I. S. A. M. Newsletter 30 (Fall 2000).
• Taylor, Jeffrey (1998) "Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, and 'Weather Bird. '" The Musical Quarterly 82 (Spring 1998).
• Earl Hines. World Book encyclopedia. Retrieved July 23, 2006. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.