Earl Kenneth "Fatha" Hines
Duquesne, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Recognized as the father of modern jazz piano, an influential band leader, and one of the first Black musicians to perform on American radio in 1921. His orchestra launched the careers of many popular jazz artists and was an incubator for bebop jazz. Born in Duquesne.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Born in Duquesne, Earl 'Fatha' Hines revolutionized the way the piano was played in jazz, developing a bold 'trumpet-style' approach that freed the instrument from a purely rhythmic role. In 1921 he became one of the first Black musicians to perform on American radio, and his big band went on to launch the careers of countless jazz greats. His orchestra served as an early incubator for the bebop revolution that reshaped American music.
Why it matters
Hines helped define modern jazz piano and gave a stage to a generation of Black artists, carrying an American art form forward at a time when the airwaves were only beginning to open to them.
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Related people
- · Earl Kenneth 'Fatha' Hines
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