Dates

• Existence: 1901 - 2000

Biography

Jester Hairston (1901-2000) was an American choral director, songwriter, and actor.

Jester Hairston was born July 9, 1901, in Belews Creek, North Carolina. He was one of the first Black students to be admitted at Tufts University, and later studied music at the Juilliard School. Hairston was a television, radio, and film actor, and a choral director and songwriter. He trained choirs for radio and Broadway musicals and started running his own touring choir in 1943. Hairston died January 18, 2000, in Los Angeles, California.

Citation:

Amen, c1957:t.p. (Jester Hairston)

Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. J. Hairston convocation [SR] 1972:label (J. Hairston)

Southern, E. Biog. dict. of Afro-American and African musicians(Hairston, Jester; b. 7/9/01, Homestead, Pennsylvania; choral conductor)

Int. dict. of Black composers, 1999(Hairston, Jester Joseph; b. July 9, 1901, Belews Creek, N.C.; raised in Homestead, Pa.; arranger, composer, touring choir leader, singer, actor, and storyteller)

Gaylord Music Library necrology file, Feb. 2, 2000(Hairston, Jester; d. Jan. 18, 2000, at 98, Los Angeles; American choral director and actor)

imdb, May 5, 2024 (Educated at Tufts University and Juilliard. Hairston was a television, radio, and film actor, and a choral director and songwriter. He trained choirs for radio and Broadway musicals and started running his own touring choir in 1943. Hairston died January 18, 2000, in Los Angeles, California) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0354377/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

wikipedia, May 5, 2024 (One of first Black students admitted to Tufts, studied music at the Julliard School)

Found in 1 Collection or Record: