Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, (28 December 1… Read Full Bio ↴Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, (28 December 1903 – 22 April 1983) was a jazz musician, often referred to as "the first modern jazz pianist".

In 1928 (on his 25th birthday) Hines began leading his own big band. For over 10 years his was "The Band" in Al Capone's Grand Terrace Cafe — Hines was Capone's "Mr Piano Man". Hines recorded for Victor in 1929, then after a gap for Brunswick from 1932-1934, Decca from 1934-1935, then after another gap, Vocalion from 1937-1938 and Bluebird from 1939-1942 (nearly all among the best Black Jazz of the era). From the Grand Terrace, The Earl Hines Orchestra (or "Organization" as he more happily referred to it) broadcast on "open mikes", sometimes five nights a week and over many years, coast to coast across America — Chicago being well placed to deal with the U.S. live-broadcasting time-zone problem. Hines's band became the most broadcast band in America. Sometimes Nat "King" Cole was Hines's relief pianist (though Cliff Smalls was his favorite) and it was here with Hines that Charlie Parker got his first professional job...until he was fired for his time-keeping — by which Hines meant Parker's inability to show up on time despite Parker resorting to sleeping under the Grand Terrace stage in his attempts to do so. Hines led his big band until 1947, taking time out to front the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1944 while Duke was ill...but the big-band era was over. (Thirty years later, Hines's 20 solo "transformative versions" of his "Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington" recorded in the 1970s were described by Ben Ratliff in the "New York Times" as "as good an example of the jazz process as anything out there".)

At the start of 1949 Hines rejoined Armstrong in the latter's "All Stars" "small band", where Hines stayed through 1951. He then led his own small combo around the States and Europe. At the start of the jazz-lean 1960s he settled in Oakland, California, opened a tobacconist's, and came close to giving up the profession. Then, in 1964 Hines was "suddenly rediscovered" following a series of concerts in New York. He was the 1965 "Critics' Choice" for Down Beat Magazine's "Hall of Fame". From then till he died he recorded endlessly both solo and with jazz notables like Cat Anderson, Buck Clayton, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Greer, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Jimmy Rushing, Stuff Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Venuti and Ben Webster. Possibly more surprising were Elvin Jones, Peggy Lee, Charles Mingus, Dinah Washington — and Ry Cooder. But his most acclaimed recordings of this period were his dazzling and endlessly inventive solo performances, which could show him at his very best, "a whole orchestra by himself".[12] Solo tributes to Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin were all put on record in the 1970s. Hines also toured Europe again regularly at this time, and added Asia, Australia and the Soviet Union to his list of State Department–funded destinations. At the top of his form, Hines also displayed his endearing quirks (not to say grunts) in these performances. Sometimes he sang as he played, especially his own "They Never Believed I Could Do It - Neither Did I". In 1975 he made an hour-long "solo" film for British TV out-of-hours in a Washington nightclub: the "New York Herald Tribune" described it as "The greatest jazz-film ever made". He played solo in The White House and played solo for the Pope — and played (and sang) his last job a few days before he died in Oakland, quite likely somewhat older than he had always maintained.

Monday Date
Earl Hines Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't forget our Monday date
Oh little baby, don't be late
I said don't forget our Monday date
At the same little place, about half past eight

Now I'm gonna press my suit
I'm gonna shine my shoes
I'm gonna spread the news

And I'm gonna chase away the blues

So don't forget our Monday date
Please, baby, don't be late

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Earl Hines's song A Monday Date convey a sense of anticipation and eagerness as the singer reminds their lover not to forget about their scheduled Monday date. The repetition of the phrase "don't forget our Monday date" emphasizes the importance of the rendezvous, while the flirty use of the phrase "oh little baby" suggests a playful dynamic between the two characters. The singer's determination to look their best, expressed in lines like "I'm gonna press my suit" and "I'm gonna shine my shoes," hints at a desire to impress their lover and make the Monday date special.

The line "And I'm gonna chase away the blues" suggests that this Monday date is something to look forward to, potentially serving as a bright spot in an otherwise mundane or challenging week. Overall, the lyrics to A Monday Date are upbeat and romantic, painting a picture of two people eager to spend time together and make the most of their date night.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't forget our Monday date
Remember our scheduled meeting on Monday

Oh little baby, don't be late
Please arrive on time, my dear

I said don't forget our Monday date
I'm emphasizing the importance of our Monday rendezvous

At the same little place, about half past eight
We'll meet at our usual location around 8:30 PM

Now I'm gonna press my suit
I'll make sure my suit is properly ironed

I'm gonna shine my shoes
My shoes will be polished and looking good

I'm gonna spread the news
I'll tell everyone about our meeting tonight

And I'm gonna chase away the blues
I'll do my best to overcome any feelings of sadness or depression

So don't forget our Monday date
One last reminder of our planned meeting

Please, baby, don't be late
I'm asking you once again to arrive on time

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EARL HINES, SYDNEY ROBIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind