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Jester Hairston

1901–2000

United States

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Biography

Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music. His notable compositions include "Amen", a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1964 hit for the Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".

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Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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