I just loved this man. When in high school 1958-60 I met him at the summer camp in Stockton, Ca. Called then the "College of the Pacific" now UOP, it was a 5 week music camp where we would practice Mon-Sat and sing a concert on Sunday each of the 5 weeks + plus put on a full Opera at the conclusion of the camp. He was a guest choir leader at the camp. He loved high school kids. We had curfews at night and had to be in our room at a certain time, but he would sneak in and tell us stories and sing and teach us little ditties that he wrote (Gossip, Gossip was the one I remember most - such truth). I told him I wanted to be a white kid in his choir - he would laugh and say "Come on down and join". I have such fond memories of this wonderful man.
One of the greatest pleasures singing with Jester's was when he'd give you the background of each piece as you rehearsed it. He wanted you to understand both the text and subtext so that you could sing it correctly. He was so animated and alive, that you couldn't HELP but sing with great feeling and expression. I miss him.
Jester Hairston was an intelligent, extremely talented, dignified man. I remember him telling the story of how he was brought to Hollywood by the legendary composer Dimitri Tiomkin. I never heard Johnny Carson laugh so hard.
