(born Dec. 28, 1903, Duquesne, Pa., U.S.—died April 22, 1983, Oakland, Calif.) U.S. pianist and bandleader who had a profound influence on the development of jazz piano.
Known as “Fatha” Hines, he was a pianist of amazing technical command and tireless energy. Breaking with the stride tradition (in which regular two-beat left-hand rhythms accompany the melody in the right hand), he emulated the single-note instruments (e.g., trumpet) in creating melodic variations of the melody with the right hand. Hines led a successful Chicago-based big band from 1928 to 1948. He was influenced by Louis Armstrong, and the two performed together frequently throughout their careers; their recorded encounters from the late 1920s, particularly “Weather Bird,” are jazz classics.
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