Dancer, actor, choreographer, director, and singer Maurice Hines was a journeyman artist who showcased his talents in a variety of settings, including the Broadway stage and film. From the age of five, Hines and his younger brother, the late Gregory Hines, performed as a dance duo opening shows for such legends as Lionel Hampton and others. Later, along with their father, the Hines danced on various television shows, with numerous appearances on The Tonight Show. During the late '70s, a lead spot as Nathan Detroit in a touring company of Guys and Dolls garnered Hines work on the Broadway stage in such musicals as Eubie! and Sophisticated Ladies. Eventually, he caught the eye of director Francis Ford Coppola, who cast both Maurice and Gregory in his 1984 period gangster drama, The Cotton Club. In 1986, Hines created, choreographed, and starred in the musical Uptown...It's Hot!, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Since that time, Hines has choreographed and directed numerous productions as well as music videos. A notable singer in the jazz tradition, Hines released his debut solo album, I've Never Been in Love Before, on the Arbors label in 2001 and To Nat King Cole with Love in 2006. Maurice Hines died on December 29, 2023, at the age of 80. ~ Matt Collar