Earl Hines

Earl Hines was an American jazz pianist and bandleader born in 1903 in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, who became one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz piano. He built his reputation in Chicago through collaborations with Louis Armstrong and led his own big band for many years, helping shape what modern jazz piano would sound like. His style bridged the stride and swing eras while pointing toward bebop, and he kept recording and performing with vitality well into his later decades.