Black History Month - Earl "Fatha" Hines

FEBRUARY 13

If you sell a drum in your own village, you get the money and keep the sound. (Madagascar)






1940: Earl "Fatha" Hines (1903-1983) and his orchestra recorded "Boogie Woogie on the St. Louis Blues”.




When I think about jazz pianists, Oscar Peterson comes to mind. And of course Jamaica’s Monty Alexander. But before them was Earl “Fatha” Hines was an outstanding piano soloist in jazz. He was also a composer, bandleader, and recording artist.

Hines came from a musical family was musical. His father played the cornet, his mother and sister played the organ, and his brother played the piano. His mother was his first music teacher.

Hines seemed to be on track for a classical music career when he fell in love with jazz. He formed his first band when he was 15, and later joined up with Louis Armstrong. Between Armstrong’s unique voice and Hines’ scorching jazz piano, the two created jazz history. Jazz legends such as Billy Eckstine, Dizzie Gillespie and Charlie Parker worked with Hines’ band.

He earned his name “Father” after he lectured a radio announcer about his drinking habits. He didn’t much care for the name, but he is indeed considered to be the father of modern jazz piano. Hines was at the forefront of the Hot Jazz style; he was always taking chances with his music, and coming up with new and exciting ideas.


Also on this date in:

1920: The first successful organized Negro Baseball League was established at a YMCA in Kansas City, Missouri by Andrew "Rube" Foster who served as its president.

1970: Joseph L. Searles III became the first black floor member and floor broker in the New York Stock Exchange. He worked as a floor partner in the firm of Neburger, Loeb and Company.