Maurice Hines was a star of stage, screen, and television. At age five he began studying tap at the Henry LeTang Dance Studio in New York City. Mr. LeTang recognized his extraordinary talents and was soon choreographing numbers specifically for Maurice and his brother, and soon the brothers were appearing on Broadway and touring as the opening act for such headliners as Lionel Hampton and Gypsy Rose Lee.
Mr. Hines later pursued a solo career and success soon followed...read more
Maurice Hines was a star of stage, screen, and television. At age five he began studying tap at the Henry LeTang Dance Studio in New York City. Mr. LeTang recognized his extraordinary talents and was soon choreographing numbers specifically for Maurice and his brother, and soon the brothers were appearing on Broadway and touring as the opening act for such headliners as Lionel Hampton and Gypsy Rose Lee.
Mr. Hines later pursued a solo career and success soon followed when he was chosen to star as Nathan Detroit in the National Touring Company of Guys and Dolls. Next, Mr. Hines created a sensation with his singing and dancing in the hit musical Eubie!. He followed this performance with celebrated roles co-starring in Bring Back Birdie with Chita Rivera and Donald O'Connor, and starring in Sophisticated Ladies. He made his big screen debut in Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club. As the film hit theaters across the country, so did Ballet Tap USA, a dance company created by Mr. Hines and Mercedes Ellington.
Mr. Hines then conceived, directed and choreographed the musical Uptown… It's Hot! which played for 17 sold-out weeks in Atlantic City. He joined the cast when the show moved to Broadway and received a 1986 Tony Award nomination as Best Actor in a Musical.
He followed this achievement by co-directing and choreographing the National Tour of the musical Satchmo produced by Kenneth Feld. He choreographed and starred in the National Tour of the musical Harlem Suite with successive leading ladies Jennifer Holiday, Stephanie Mills, and Melba Moore. He starred as Jelly Roll Morton in the forty city first-class National Tour of the musical Jelly's Last Jam, and later returned to the role of Nathan Detroit in the first-class National Tour of Guys and Dolls.
Following these successful stage runs, Mr. Hines turned his attention to directing and choreographing music videos, including the I'll be Good To You, the first release off of Quincy Jones's 'Back on the Block' album. Mr. Hines has also directed The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
Maurice passed away at the age of 80 in 2023.
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