Gregory Oliver Hines Archives

Mr. Gregory Oliver Hines was born on February 14, 1946, in New York City to Alma Iola (Lawless) and Maurice Robert Hines. As a child, Hines began to tap dance and studied under a number of veteran tap dancers, so it was no surprise that he would later launch a successful Broadway, television and film career. Alongside his brother, he began making nightclub appearances as “The Hines Kids”, later known as “The Hines Brothers”, going on to incorporate their father as a drummer becoming, “Hines, Hines, and Dad”.

Hines then went on to become the lead vocalist o Severance, a rock band, where he received an opportunity to reach number one on the Billboard R&B charts singing a duet with Luther Vandross. In the film world, Hines has been seen on the big screen in a number of films and television series, even starring in his own, “The Gregory Hines Show” on CBS. He then went on to debut on Broadway, earning a number of Tony Award Nominations and going on to win two others. Mr. Hine went on to create and host his own show “Gregory Hines’ Tap Dance in America”, hosting tap dance professionals and led to an opportunity to co-host the Tony Awards ceremony twice.

During his career, Hones advocated for tap dance as an art form in America, going as far to create National Tap Dance Day. He served on the board of directors for and as a member of a number of tap dance organizations. He has taught and influenced dance artists, as he has credited dance to be the main influencer of his life leading to the list of awards and nominations he has accumulated throughout his professional career. On August 9, 2003, Hines passed in Los Angeles California., but his legacy as a Black STEAMer lives on in his art.

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