REMEMBERING JESTER HAIRSTON
It was late in 2000 before I learned of the death of Jester Hairston in Los Angeles on January 18, 2000 at age 98. At occasional gatherings of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, I would talk to members of Jester's home church and get an update on his health and plans for the 100th birthday bash in 2002. But I had not seen him since the big celebration of his 90th birthday in 1992 at Los Angeles: Holman UMC, 3320 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90018. Our choir at Los Altos UMC in Long Beach joined with the Holman choirs for a birthday concert of Jester's music. Although he directed us in our last practice to give us a fine tuning, that night he was in the front row as guest of honor. It was an event to remember with standing room, only, in that huge sanctuary.
But my most memorial recollection of Jester was when I first met him in the Spring of 1979. My wife, Mary, was directing the adult choir at Seaside UCC in Torrance and was approached by a neighbor church to combine choirs for a Jester Hairston concert in May. We practiced jointly several times led by the other choir director, and finally by Jester, himself. I hardly remember the concert more than 20 years later, but I do remember the man. He seemed a bit frail when he walked it to be introduced to us, and somewhat crippled with arthritis. But as we sang under his direction, he seemed to limber up and was soon off the stool and jumping around as he coached us. For sure we sang Elijah Rock; Live-A-Humble; Steal Away; Poor Man Lazarus; Lay Yo' Head in the Winda', Jesus; Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child; Oh, Rocka My Soul; I Want Jesus; and Amen. and we could have done 1 or 2 more from his other works: Deep River; In Dat Great Gittin' Up Mornin'; Hold On!; Dis Train; Don't Be Weary Traveler; Lord I Don't Feel Noways Tired; Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho; Go Down In De Lonesome Valley; and Crucifixion.
Whe he died, we lost a great man.
A Few Jester Hairston Links:
Alumnus Jester Hairston dies at 98: Actor-composer helped preserve Negro spirituals: http://www.umass.edu/chronicle/archives/00/01-28/Hairston18.html
Jester Hairston: http://www.choralnet.org/resources/repertoire/composer/hairston.html
Jester Hairston Bio: http://www.amosandy.com/Jester%20Hairston.htm
Remembering Jester: http://www.scholacantorum.org/v92jester.html
Product Information on Hairston, Jester: Spirituals (CD): http://mac3.a-cappella.com/prodinfo.asp?number=6444C
Primarily A Cappella: Jester Hairston: http://www.singers.com/choral/jesterhairston.html
2001 WITNESS Concert Curriculum: http://www.plymouthmusic.org/jhproc.html and http://www.plymouthmusic.org/hairston.html
Updated on June 16, 2001