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The Life and

Choral Works

of Jester Hairston

MICAH BLAND

“He has shown thousands, if not

millions of people, that music is love.” 1

–Eugene Thamon Simpson

The years 2025 and 2026 mark two significant anniversaries for actor, singer,
arranger, composer, and choral director Jester Hairston: the 125 anniversary of
th
th
his birth (July 9, 1901) and 25 anniversary of his death (January 18, 2000). Over
the course of his lifetime, he was revered by many in the industry, earning
numerous awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, multiple
honorary doctorates, and he is the only known individual to have an
2
ACDA National Convention dedicated in their honor (March 11, 1989). 3

In the preface of his book, Way Over in Beulah Lan’, ACDA Past
President André Thomas noted Hairston’s significant impact on his
perception and interest in the spiritual genre. Additionally, Donald
4
Neuen mentioned Hairston’s influence in his 2023 Robert Shaw
Choral Award acceptance speech, noting that “[Hairston]
taught me how to feel the ‘inside’ of the Spiritual.” Although
5
choral directors from earlier generations likely recall
Hairston with great fondness and respect, many today
may be unfamiliar or only faintly acquainted with
Hairston’s life and works. In addition, academic
literature concerning Hairston’s published works
is sparse. This article will reintroduce the choral
community to Jester Hairston through an
overview of his life, published oeuvre, and
discussion of selected works.

CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3 17