Duquesne Remembers Hines With Ceremony

Plaque at childhood home commemorates birthplace of jazz legend

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
June 18, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News

State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, Duquesne Councilwoman Elaine Washington, Duquesne Mayor R. Scott Adams, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Chair Hayley Haldeman and Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey celebrate the unveiling of a historical plaque for jazz musician Earl “Fatha” Hines. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

A recording of Earl “Fatha” Hines’s music filled the air outside his childhood home on Tuesday morning as crowds gathered to pay tribute to one of Duquesne’s favorite sons.

At a ceremony in the 600 block of Priscilla Street, local elected officials, historians and jazz fans unveiled a historical marker commemorating the life of a musician and bandleader considered one of the most influential figures in the history of American jazz.

Promising to keep the program tight and quick to avoid impending 90-degree summer heat, Duquesne Councilwoman Elaine Washington, who also serves as President of the Phyllis Wheatley Literary Society, recognized dignitaries, such as Duquesne Mayor R. Scott Adams, county Councilman Bob Macey, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano and Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission Chair Hayley Haldeman.

Macey presented a proclamation from Allegheny County Council and Pisciottano joked that “Fatha” was the “second most famous ‘Hines’ from Pittsburgh.”

(Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

Hines was born in 1905 in Duquesne and shortly thereafter, his father Joseph — a talented horn player — and stepmother Mary bought the home. Earl learned to play classical piano and by age 11 was playing the organ in church.

At age 17, he joined a touring band and in 1921, along with vocalist Lois Deppe, Hines became one of the first Black Americans to perform on radio.

Soon Hines began working with legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong, and in 1928, formed his own orchestra. He was named best jazz piano player in the world by Downbeat magazine for six years and was chosen to represent the U.S. on a goodwill tour of the Soviet Union in the 1960s.

Throughout his long career, Hines would work with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop music, including Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, The Ink Spots and Peggy Lee, before his death in California in 1983.

Although Hines left the Steel City and toured the world, he returned home regularly, and according to friends, he didn’t tell people he was from “Pittsburgh” but he was from “Duquesne.”

Clairton-born singer Marva Josie, who worked with Hines for 16 years, remembers the late jazz great. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

Among the honored guests at Tuesday’s event was Marva Josie, a talented Clairton-born singer who was a part of Hines’ touring troupe for 16 years.

“I’m very excited to be here today,” Josie said as she sat in a shaded folding chair. An opera singer by trade, Josie was one of 40 women who auditioned for Hines in 1968 New York City, and became a favorite singing partner.

Sidelined by a recent accident, Josie was able to walk across the street and join Washington in remembrance of the jazz legend. Josie said that Hines once told her that she would be recognized all around the world for her talent, but warned her that she might not get the same treatment in Pittsburgh region.

That changed for Hines and Josie Tuesday morning.

“He used to call me ‘Marvel,’” joked Josie, who still occasionally. “I was on 80 tours with Father. He would say that all concerts were successful.” She said joked that she and Hines were able to succeed because of “good drinking water” in the valley. “We were thankful for every step along the way.”

It took several years to get the plaque approved and created. Resident Arnold Staples first brought the idea to Washington and Mayor Adams. The extended Staples family aided in the campaign.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused further delays, including a halt in the production of new historic markers statewide, according to Haldeman.

Some 2,600 historical markers currently dot the commonwealth. Haldeman said that only about a third of the applications are accepted.

(Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. His work also appears in The Valley Mirror and other publications.

Originally published June 18, 2024.

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