Earl Hines & His Orchestra - Beau-Koo Jack

Hines took classical piano lessons and played organ in his local Baptist church but also developed an ear for popular show tunes and was able to remember and play songs he heard in theaters. t the age of 17, Hines moved away from home to take a job playing with Lois Deppe & his Serenaders. In 1925 he moved to Chicago. Armstrong and Hines became good friends and got jobs playing together in Dickerson's band. In 1927 this became Louis Armstrong's band under Hines' direction. In 1928 Hines began leading his own band, which for 11 years his was "The Band" in The Grand Terrace Café in Chicago. Hines led his big band until 1948, taking time out to front the Duke Ellington orchestra in 1944 while Duke was ill, but by then the big-band era was over. As for this amazing performance, it was recorded in 1929.