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.

Sweet Lorraine
Earl Hines Lyrics

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Everything is set, skies are blue,
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,

(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,

For it's in my sweeties smile,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,
Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine

Everything is set, skies are blue,
Can't believe it yet, but it's true,
I'll give you just one guess,
My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
Waiting for the time, soon to be,
When the bells will chime merrily,

(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun,
For it's in my sweeties smile,
Just think that I'm the lucky one
Who will lend her down the aisle
Each night I pray
That nobody steals her heart away,

Just can't wait until that happy day,
When I marry sweet Lorraine

Overall Meaning

Sweet Lorraine is a romantic song about a man named Earl Hines who is in love with a woman named Lorraine. The song is about his excitement and anticipation for their upcoming marriage. He talks about how everything is set for their big day, the skies are blue, and he can't believe that she said "yes". He's eagerly waiting for the time when the bells will chime merrily and they can finally tie the knot. Hines is extremely content with his love for Lorraine; he says that when it's raining, he doesn't miss the sun because he has her smile to light up his day. He feels like the luckiest man in the world to have her in his life and to be able to walk her down the aisle. Each night he prays that no one can steal her heart away from him and he can't wait for that happy day when they finally get married.

The song is a beautiful testament to love and how meaningful it is. The lyrics are simple and heartfelt, which is what makes it so special. The melody is soothing, and it is filled with emotion, which is what makes it so powerful. The song also highlights the beauty of a romantic relationship and how two people can find happiness, peace, and love in each other. Ultimately, Earl Hines's sweet serenade to Lorraine reminds us that love is a powerful force that makes us feel whole and content.

Line by Line Meaning

Everything is set, skies are blue
The situation is ideal and perfect

Can't believe it yet, but it's true
It's hard to imagine it's really happening but it is

I'll give you just one guess
It's obvious what the answer is

My sweet Lorraine said "yes"
My lover accepted my proposal

Waiting for the time, soon to be
Looking forward to the future when something will happen

When the bells will chime merrily
The wedding bells will ring joyfully

(I'm so happy,) when it's raining I don't miss the sun
Even in difficult times, my lover's smile brings me happiness

For it's in my sweeties smile
My lover's smile is a source of my happiness

Just think that I'm the lucky one
I feel fortunate to be loved by my lover

Who will lend her down the aisle
I will walk her down the aisle during the wedding ceremony

Each night I pray
I pray every night