Jester Hairston i Odense - Amen

[thejfrogirl]

My mother was also able to sing with him while she was in high school.  Such an amazing man.

[thejfrogirl]

He came to my school when I was about 10 (around 1980) and we performed a concert with him in our city. He was such a nice man and has stayed in my mind all this time. It's amazing to see this. Thank you!!

[thewordkeeper]

I saw Lillies of the Filed at the movies when i was a youngster. Now after all of these years i finally know who dubbed Sidney's voice. All the times i watched Amen the tv show i never had a clue that Mr. Hairston was the composer and singer of Amen. Strange that no matter how old you get you never stop learning.

[thewordkeeper]

@thewordkeeper Lillies of the Filed? Yeah that's the one that was never released. It starred Jester Hairston. He sung all the parts in the movie and Sidney Portier dubbed in his speaking voice.

[melodramasmith]

I had the great fortune to be under his direction for a week at a summer music camp in Virginia after my junior year in high school. He was marvelous, so full of life and caring! He shared so much with us!

[weffler1]

I was a young white girl taken by her parents to some church in downtown LA to be a part of this church's concerts, and I remember him, wow . . . ya, we were the only white people but it was somehow wonderful . . .and now I rethink it all.

[MartaBtrp]

:))))))))))

[txtabby]

@bannanaboy33 Jester was a friend of the family, as my father was Dean of Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific for many years. Such a sweet wonderful man. He conducted our summer choir there, singing of course, Amen. Wonderful memories!

[guinethe]

This brings back memories of getting to sing with Mr. Hairston as we sang his arrangements back in high school so many years ago.

[trockenenfusses]

Ein ganz grosser Mann! Er erklärt die grossen Dinge so einfach,dass Gross und Klein sie verstehen.Welch grosser Geist,welch grosses Herz.Thank You deeply,for posting and sharing.

[fairfax17]

it was Sidney's cinging the song in the movies Lillies of the Field but Mr Hairston wrote the lyric to this song. Just one fact to grow on. He also wrote Elijah Rock , sung so jazzy by Ms Mahalia Jackson. Check out the clip on You Tube

[NuBeginnin]

@fairfax17 Sidney wasn't singing in "Lillies of the Field", Mr. Hairston was.

[fairfax17]

loved him every since he appeared in Lady Sings the Blues. Good Christian Man. His voice is a representation of his charater; nice and strong, rich and deep.

[bannanaboy33]

Ah! That's my Jester! Makes me proud to know I'm related to this iconic figure.

[ROBOTkw1]

You're related to Jester Hairston? KooL! I saw a WebPage of the history of the entire Hairston family, black AND white. Fascinating! Look it up on google- I'm sure it's still there.

[bannanaboy33]

@ROBOTkw1 Yeah dude. I helped with that Page, I'm part of the National Hairston Clan.

[Snowhill3]

Amen

[Suzywriter]

this is wonderful! I have always wanted to to see Jester Hairston perform. Thank you.

[weedunn]

Thanks for this video.

I saw "Lillies of the Field" as a little boy and never forgot this song.

I'm singing it with the kids at church on Sunday.

Long live Jester Hairston.

Allan D. (Scotland)

[cheyenne86]

This is such a true song, spirit filled truth. Thank the Lord for the message.

[cheyenne86]

I have wanted to see Mr Hairston sing this. I knew it was his voice in lilies of the field

[olderlyman]

Nicht gans so gut, wie die Aufnahme von " Dr. Hairstone and his Chorus " auf einer Schallplatte des DRK von ca.1979 - 1974