[78-L] Earl Hines

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RUSSELL BARNES" <r.barnes4 at btopenworld.com>> During 1965, as a mature 
student, I spent a year several months in Southampton University (UK)
>
> Imagine my astonishment when I read a diminutive note on the Student’s 
> Events board announcing that, in a week’s time, an Earl Hines would be 
> playing the piano in one of the minor lecture rooms. Ridiculous - was my 
> immediate reaction. I visited the Student’s Enquiries office where a 
> bemused clerk said “Who’s Earl Hines. We got a letter sayin’ he’s 
> available so we booked him”.
> On the day Ernie Bayly (Talking Machine Review) and I arrived at the 
> lecture room where less than a dozen students were waiting. Earl arrived 
> (somewhat bemused) – sat at a nice grand piano and played. Within ten 
> minutes some of the teenaged students found this wasn’t their cup o tea - 
> and most left.
> We both moved close to the piano and Earl realised he had a least two 
> appreciative listeners. He finished the first set early and the three of 
> us found a bar where we bought Earl a drink with our apologies for the 
> poor turn out.
> He explained that he was on a somewhat hastily arranged US funded 
> Educational-Good Will tour to Europe. He went on to say that where he 
> lived in the US he was an honorary member of his local Fire Service. They, 
> it appeared, were flush with money and helped sponsor his tour.
> The second half was a dream come true. About ten of us sat close to the 
> piano as Earl played and chatted, weaving through his background in Jazz – 
> I’d seen him previously within the rigours of a Theater arena - but this 
> was something very different. He was spellbinding !!.
> But so was Art Tatum – let’s not go down that road again.
>
Southampton Institute of Technology...?! Good old "SHIT"...?!

stevenc