Jester Hairston’s Film Music Career

This article aims to introduce the film music community to the life and career of Jester Hairston (1901–2000)—a multitalented Black entertainer who composed, arranged, and conducted choral ensembles for notable film composers throughout the mid-twentieth century. Hairston’s seven-decade Hollywood career began in 1936 as the assistant conductor of the Hall Johnson Choir. Following his tenure with the ensemble, Hairston worked extensively with composer Dimitri Tiomkin for over twenty years. Hairston’s most significant contribution to film music occurred in 1944 when he established the first integrated choir in Hollywood. Later in life, Hairston found success as an actor, appearing in film and television shows such as The Alamo (1960) and Amen (1986–1991), earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As an entertainer Hairston garnered 114 film and television credits (68 as a musician) and published 56 choral works.