Jelly’s Last Jam

Background:

The late Gregory Hines (1946-2003) astounded the cinematic industry and stage community with his endless accomplishments. The skilled performer, who was also a talented tap dancer, was applauded for his role in the stage musical “Eubie” (1978), in which he won a Theater World Award and earned a Tony nomination. Collecting two other Tony nominations for his fine performances in “Comin’ Uptown” (1980) and “Sophisticated Ladies” (1981), the actor rose even higher with his role of ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton in the musical drama “Jelly’s Last Jam” (1992). Thanks to his rewarding effort in the latter, Hines took home a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award, and shared a Tony nomination with Hope Clarke and Ted L. Levy for their choreography masterpiece. On the screen, Hines became a three-time Emmy nominee after getting involved in such projects as the special variety programs I Love Liberty (1982) and Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985), as well as the self-produced TV biopic Bojangles (2001).

Gregory Hines died of cancer and was buried in St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic cemetery in Oakville, Ontario. The entertainer, who was the ex-husband of Patricia Hines and Pamela Koslow, was engaged to bodybuilder Negrita Jayde at the time of his death.


Tap Kid

Childhood and Family:

On February 14, 1946, in the heart of New York, Gregory Oliver Hines was born to dancer Maurice Robert Hines Sr. and Alma Iola Hines. Little Gregory, who showed an exceptional flair for dancing, had his first professional tap performance with his brother Maurice Hines at the age of three. He then studied with Henry LeTang.

As for his romantic life, Gregory was once married to Patricia Hines, who gave birth to daughter Daria Hines in 1971. After getting divorced from Patricia, he exchanged wedding vows with Pamela Koslow on April 12, 1981, but the couple separated in early 1998. They shared a son named Zachary Hines (born 1983). Gregory was also the stepfather of Jessica Koslow.

Gregory Hines passed away on August 9, 2003, in Los Angeles, California, of liver cancer.


Eubie

Career:

In 1949, little Gregory Hines captured attention dancing with his brother as the Hines Kids. Five years later, he and his brother went to Broadway and made a debut with “The Girl in the Pink Tights” (1954). After the two brothers performed under the name of Hines Brothers during 1955-1963, they eventually went on tour with their father from 1963 to 1973 and renamed the group Hines, Hines and Dad.

Hines then decided to move to California, where in 1974 he formed the jazz-rock band Severance. Going nowhere with the band, the teen performer gained an overnight success with his role in the stage musical “Eubie” (1978), a tribute to composer Eubie Blake. For the lovely portrayal, he won a Theater World and earned a Tony nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical. Hines, who became the musical guest of a 1979 episode of the TV series “Saturday Night Live,” successfully starred in the Harlem-set stage musical “Comin’ Uptown” (1980) and received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Play. After reprising his role in the small screen version of Eubie (1981), the rising star picked up another Tony nomination for his performance in the Broadway production of “Sophisticated Ladies” (1981).

Moving on to the silver screen, Hines had a debut with the supporting role of Josephus in Mel Brooks’ satire History of the World, Part I (1981). In 1982, he was nominated for an Emmy for his excellent performance in the special variety program I Love Liberty, as well as became a guest host in the sketch comedy show “Fridays.” He also acted opposite Chevy Chase and Sigourney Weaver in the satirical comedy Deal of the Century (1983) and costarred as Sandman Williams, alongside Richard Gere, in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club (1984).

Hines’ second Emmy nomination came for his appearance in another special variety program, Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985). The same year, the actor starred as Raymond Greenwood for the drama White Nights. Trying the action comedy genre, he had the leading role of streetwise cop Ray Hughes in Running Scared (1986), which was then followed with another role as a cop in the thriller Off Limits (1988, as Albaby Perkins). Also in 1988, the actor explored his musical talent and released a self-titled debut album.

1989 was a busy year for Hines. He appeared as Feste the clown in the New York Shakespeare Festival staging of “Twelfth Night,” hosted a segment of the TV special show Tap Dance in America, and starred as ex-convict Max Washington in the drama Tap. He also played Goldy in the crime movie A Rage in Harlem (1991) and had a titular character in the made-for-TV comedy T Bone N Weasel (1992).

Hines successfully portrayed ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton in the Broadway musical drama “Jelly’s Last Jam” (1992), where he collected a Tony and a Drama Desk for Best Actor in a Musical. Also, for his choreography work in the play, Hines shared a Tony’s Best Choreographer nomination with Hope Clarke and Ted L. Levy. He followed the achievement with a directorial debut on the big screen with the romantic drama Bleeding Hearts (1995).

Following his supporting turn as Joe Hamilton in the holiday movie The Preacher’s Wife (1996), Hines starred as Ben Stevenson in his own sitcom “The Gregory Hines Show” (1997-1998), portrayed jazz musician Tyrone in The Tic Code (1999) and accepted the recurring role of Ben Doucette in the popular sitcom “Will & Grace” (2000). A year later, the actor tried a hand as an executive producer in the TV biopic Bojangles (2001), in which his fine portrayal of dancer Bill Robinson brought him two Emmy nominations. He also helmed the family TV movie The Red Sneakers (2002, also played Zeke).

Before his death, Gregory Hines appeared in the crime drama The Root (2003) and in an episode of “Law & Order” (2003), as attorney Carl Halpert. Hines was also cast as Jordan King in his last sitcom work, “Lost at Home” (2003).


Awards:

- Tony: Best Actor in a Musical, “Jelly’s Last Jam,” 1992
- Drama Desk: Outstanding Actor in a Musical, “Jelly’s Last Jam,” tied with Nathan Lane (Guys and Dolls), 1992
- Theater World: “Eubie!” 1979