Ask any jazz musician who has come up in Philadelphia over the last 40 years or so, and they’ll probably have a story to tell about Lovett Hines. An arts advocate and music educator of legendary stature, he has been associated with the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts since 1985, and previously with the Settlement Music School.
Last year, the Jazz Journalists Association honored him as a Philadelphia Jazz Hero, formally acknowledging a truth universally acknowledged on the scene. His former students include Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joey DeFrancesco, Jaleel Shaw and countless others. For his 80th birthday, we gathered testimonials from an array of other notables on the Philly jazz scene, like Christian McBride, Sumi Tonooka, Jaleel Shaw, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Orrin Evans. But we begin with a tribute from one of our own.
J. Michael Harrison:
I’ll begin by wishing the happiest of birthdays to one of Philadelphia’s most treasured citizens. Happy 80th, Lovett Hines! Long gone are the days of an adolescent “Little Lovett Hines” playing saxophone and executing splits while competing in talent shows against some of Philadelphia’s most gifted youth of the time, including an emerging young vocalist named Billy Paul. To the best of my knowledge, Lovett hasn’t successfully pulled off a split in some time, but his energy and commitment to developing and nurturing creativity is as strong as ever. These days, he’s recognized as a titan of music education – that’s Lovett Hines at 80, and apparently there’s no slowing him down.
As founder of the Clef Club’s Jazz Education Program, he’s been instrumental in the development of talented musicians who have delivered magical musical experiences to audiences around the world. The celebration of his 80th birthday began late last week, and it was truly amazing to witness. Mr. Hines seamlessly navigated his way through four opportunities for students to perform, scattered around various parts of Philadelphia. It would have been a major accomplishment for anyone else to manage just one of the activities. (Reminder — he turns 80 today!)
The festivities began last Thursday with an evening performance by the entire Clef Club Jazz Summer Camp, at Dilworth Park in front of City Hall. The following day included a midday recital at the Clef Club that energized and electrified all in attendance. The recital transitioned into a group of students from the Clef Club performing at Renee McBride’s Cedar Park Jazz Series in West Philadelphia during the early evening. And the day ended with Lovett, a few students from the Clef Club, a couple of teaching assistants, a teacher, and several parents joining me in the WRTI broadcast studio to reflect on the camp — though it was only appropriate that his “babies,” as he would call them, also shared some birthday love.
It’s worth noting that beyond the events themselves, there were countless preparations, rehearsals, phone calls, permission slips, twice securing a few dozen pizzas, equipment, transportation, a bunch of organizational, administrative, and managerial decisions that must be addressed during this period to make everything happen. Once again, happy 80 th and thank you, Lovett Hines, for all your service!
Christian McBride:
Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, Benjamin Rush, Octavius V. Catto and Walt Whitman are historical figures who are synonymous with Philadelphia. These five people have legacies so deeply ingrained into our consciousness, you know who they are without consciously studying them. People who have taught us history have always made sure that the stories and legacies of these people carry on. Those same people should be prepared to forever teach the legacy of another historic figure, Mr. Lovett Hines.
Mr. Hines has taught and mentored just about every young jazz musician in Philadelphia over the last five-plus decades. His benevolent leadership style has built the confidence and skills of millions of young musicians throughout his career. His dedication to following the lives of so many of his former students proves that he is guided by love and by helping others. We should all pay tribute to Mr. Hines on his birthday (and beyond) by actively mentoring the young musicians that want to play it. Expose a young person you know to live jazz. Expose them to a teacher who just may very well become a permanent fixture in their lives, the way Mr. Hines has been for me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to another historical figure synonymous with Philadelphia, my UNCLE LOVE!
Sumi Tonooka:
My friendship with Lovett goes all the way back, when I knew him as the husband of one of my best friends at PCPA, Carla Washington. He just turned 80 and still looks young as ever! Since then, he has mentored more than a few generations of jazz musicians, many of them starting at the Clef Club before the age of 10 years old. There are many great educators and mentors in Philadelphia but Lovett is a living, heartbeat and a force, whose ability to encourage and teach jazz is fused with love, care, wisdom and a passion and belief in the creative potential of all of his students who have a home and a place to thrive and grow at the Clef Club.
Jaleel Shaw:
Mr. Hines has changed the lives of countless musicians coming out of Philadelphia. I’m extremely thankful for all of the love and dedication that he not only put into me, but all of the creative individuals that he’s interacted with over the years. He has shown us all why music is so important and helped to mold us into artists that could share that energy with the world.
Orrin Evans:
Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Lovette Hines has given life to the world by the amount of students he’s sent out to share the good news of music. We all owe Mr. HInes gratitude, love and respect for his teaching legacy. Keep on keeping on and THANK YOU for your consistent support.
Jamaaladeen Tacuma:
How can words express a gentleman who has been a pillar in the Philadelphia music community for more than 60 years. Yes, 60 years — because I am referring to Lovett Hines, who I came to know him as one of the founding members of the legendary Philadelphia band called HEEM in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. One of the local bands that laid the foundation for us younger musicians to aspire to and imitate. Those are precious moments and memories that I have of this great man, and it was evident that he would continue to do great things in Philadelphia working with the youth and being an integral link to the music education system here and abroad. He has mentored so many younger musicians who went on to become established artists on their own. Lovett has a heart of pure GOLD, and when asked to use the Clef Club facility to support a positive cause, he never turns anyone down. Always there to support. So I am in awe of this superhuman. A brother, a gentleman, a kind-hearted soul and one who has a legacy of pure excellence. Love you Lovett, and may God continue to bless you with health, wealth and success.
Carla Washington (Lovett’s wife)
The Arts can change the world because it can change people. Lovett has spent his life mentoring young people to transform the world through their creative voices in the arts. He wants students to love the music /arts as much as he does. I have witnessed first hand the love, commitment and dedication that he gives to his students, and I have seen the final results.
Happy Birthday, Lovett
Luv Ya
Carla