American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor (1901–2000)
Jester Hairston
Hairston as Henry Van Porter on The Amos 'n' Andy Show, 1951
Born
Jester Joseph Hairston
(1901-07-09)July 9, 1901
Belews Creek, North Carolina, U.S.
Died
January 18, 2000(2000-01-18) (aged 98)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names
Jasper J. Hairston Jester J. Hairston
Occupations
Composer
songwriter
arranger
choral conductor
actor
Years active
1936–1999
Spouse
Isabelle Margaret Swanigan
(m. 1939; died 1986)
Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music.[1][2] His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1964 hit for the Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child."
^Woo, Elaine (January 21, 2000). "Actor Overcame Race Stereotypes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
^Watkins, Mel (January 30, 2000). "Jester Hairston, 98, Choral Expert and Actor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as...
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Frances Drake 87 US Actress Les Misérables It's a Wonderful World 18 JesterHairston 98 US Actor In the Heat of the Night The Alamo 19 Hedy Lamarr 85 Austria...
the mysterious islands of the Caribbean." Calypso singer King Moses (JesterHairston) provided musical bridges by threading plot situations into the lyrics...
radio and television versions of episode 31, "How to Die for Nothing". JesterHairston, who appeared in episode 14, was the first black performer to appear...
Trinidad and Barbados, as well as the song Mary's Little Boy Child by JesterHairston (Calypso Christmas, CL 923 Mono LP, 1956). In the Broadway-theatre...
Kenneth Hahn (1920–1997), county supervisor and city council member JesterHairston (1901–2000), actor, musician, arranger Lois Hall (1926–2006), actress...
chart. "Amen" was an African-American spiritual arranged and sung by JesterHairston for the 1963 film Lilies of the Field, starring Sidney Poitier. Curtis...
player (b. 1969) January 15 – Fran Ryan, actress (b. 1916) January 18 JesterHairston, actor and composer (b. 1901) Frances Drake, actress (b. 1912) January...
tune by Lotto during 1989. The cast of Amen performed the song, with JesterHairston and Roz Ryan singing solos as their respective characters, Rolly Forbes...
Seeger, modernist composer and folk music arranger (died 1953) July 9 – JesterHairston, actor and composer (died 2000) July 10 – Daniel V. Gallery, admiral...
(May God Bless You)" on B-side). 1956: "Mary's Boy Child", written by JesterHairston; released by Harry Belafonte on An Evening with Belafonte. 1957: "Mistletoe...
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