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person_profile-Jester Hairston

Jester Hairston Died at age: 98

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

Jester Hairston

Date of Birth:

Jul 09, 1901

Country of birth:

Died:

Jan 18, 2000

Biography of

Jester Hairston

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    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 Negro spirituals and choral music. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".

    He sang with the Hall Johnson Choir in Harlem for a time but was nearly fired from the all black choir because he had difficulty with the rural dialects that were used in some of the songs. He had to shed his Boston accent and relearn the country speech of his parents and grandparents. Johnson had told him, "We're singing ain't and cain't and you're singing shahn't and cahn't and they don't mix in a spiritual." The Hall Johnson Choir performed in many Broadway shows including The Green Pastures. In 1936, they were asked to go to Hollywood to sing for the film The Green Pastures. At that time, a Russian composer, Dimitri Tiomkin, heard Jester and invited him to collaborate with him. This led to a thirty-year collaboration during which time Jester arranged and collected music for the movies. In 1939, Hairston married Margaret Swanigan. He also wrote and arranged spirituals for Hollywood films as well as for high school and college choirs around the country.

    Hairston wrote the song "Mary's Boy Child" in 1956. He also arranged the song "Amen", which he dubbed for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field, and arranged traditional Negro spirituals. Most of Hairston's film work was in the field of composing, arranging, and choral conducting. Hairston also acted in over 20 films, mostly in small roles, some of which were uncredited. Among the films he appeared in were bit parts in some of the early Tarzan movies, St. Louis Blues, The Alamo, To Kill a Mockingbird, In the Heat of the Night, Lady Sings the Blues, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Being John Malkovich.

    In 1961, the US State Department appointed Jester Hairston as Goodwill Ambassador. He traveled all over the world teaching and performing the folk music of the slaves. In the 1960s he held choral festivals with public high school choirs, introducing them to Negro Spiritual music, and sometimes leading several hundred students in community performances. His banter about the history of the songs along with his engaging personality and sense of humor endeared him to many students.

    Hairston appeared on TV's The Amos 'n' Andy Show. He had the role of Leroy on the radio program and as Henry Van Porter on the television program. He also played the role of Wildcat on the show That's My Mama. In his senior years he appeared in the show Amen as Rolly Forbes. His last television appearance was in 1993 on an episode of Family Matters. Hairston also played the role of "King Moses" on radio for the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall show Bold Venture.

    Hairston died in Los Angeles of natural causes in 2000 at age 98. Born in 1901, Hairston's life spanned each year of the 20th century. For his contribution to the television industry, Hairston has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6201 Hollywood Blvd. He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.

Filmography of

Jester Hairston

Found 22 Movies in total

... 1988

Green Eyes

Dirk Dubeck ( Actor )

... 1977

The Last Tycoon

Waiter in Stahr's Office (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1976

... 1976

Lady Sings the Blues

The Butler ( Actor )

... 1972

Finian's Rainbow

Passion Pilgrim Gospeller ( Actor )

... 1968

In the Heat of the Night

Endicott's Butler ( Actor )

... 1967

To Kill a Mockingbird

Spence Robinson (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1962

Summer and Smoke

Thomas (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1961

The Alamo

Jethro ( Actor )

... 1960

Raymie

Ransom ( Actor )

... 1960

Pete Kelly's Blues

Mourner (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1955

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle

Witch Doctor ( Actor )

... 1955

... 1954

Gypsy Colt

Carl ( Actor )

... 1954

So This Is Love

Preacher ( Actor )

... 1953

We're Not Married!

Lead Christmas Caroler (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1952

... 1951

Across the Pacific

Passerby (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1942

In This Our Life

Black Man in Jail (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1942

Sundown

Native Boy (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1941

The Green Pastures

Member of Hall Johnson Choir (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1936