[JPL] Mona Hinton - A legend of her own making....

Tue May 6 14:14:13 EDT 2008

About 6 weeks ago Dave Brubeck told me some stories about how
Mona Hinton had saved, as he put it, "his butt" on more than one
occassion. He then went on to describe one of the most memorable...

There was a concert about 20 years ago that he (dave Brubeck) took very 
ill at the last minute and was so ill he couldn't actually play -- Mona
was there and pulled his younger son aside and insisted that he go
out and perform with the group -- thus ensuring that a Brubeck
actually performed that night. Dave never forgot it....

There are many other stories about how she helped book gigs, helped
musicians to get their lives back on track, or generally saved the day.
She was a mother to many of the musicians, and so on and so forth. But when
you look at all the musicians whom loved her... the Ben Webster's,
the Quincy Jone's (and the list goes on and on) you will see the mark
of a woman who had an impact on the music scene in a way that is not
truly heralded. Alot of the musicians that became legends, and those
whose contributions have yet to be realized owe alot to not just the
"Judge" but Mona as well.

I remember many days and nights at their house, with good food, the company
of good people, and most importantly the feeling of love that eminated from
everything Mona and the Judge did for everyone.

So when you play a song on this Mother's Day, play a tribute song to Mona
Hinton, maybe it'll be "Mona's Feeling Lonely" off one of Milt Hinton's
album or
maybe it will be some other tune -- but in whatever way you choose, pay your
respects to someone who was in many ways the "mother" of jazz.

Peace & Blessings,
Jerald Miller
Nu Jazz Entertainement

-----Original Message-----
From: jazzproglist-bounces at jazzweek.com
[mailto:jazzproglist-bounces at jazzweek.com] On Behalf Of Michelle Mobley
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 2:47 AM
To: JPL
Subject: [JPL] Mona Hinton - R.I.P.

This week's sponsor: JazzWeek Summit, June 19-21, 2008

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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Forwarded from:
Carolyn McClair Public Relations Press Release

Contact: Carolyn McClair
(212) 721-3341

Mona Clayton Hinton 1919-2008

Edmonia - Mona - Clayton Hinton, the widow of noted jazz musician and
documentarian Milt Hinton (1910-2000), died on May 3, 2008, at North Shore
Hospital after a long illness. She was living at the Hinton family residence
on Milt Hinton Place in the Queens section of New York City. 

The Hintons first met at Milt's grandmother's funeral in 1939 and were
inseparable for the next 61 years. Mona traveled extensively with Milt
throughout his career. She was the only spouse on the road with the Cab
Calloway Orchestra in the 1940s, where, according to Milt, she was extremely
helpful in finding rooms and meals for band members especially when the band
worked in small towns during the Jim Crow era. During the '50s and '60s when
Milt was working day and night in the New York studios, Mona kept the books
and made often complicated transportation arrangements. And during the last
two decades of his life, Milt and Mona got to travel to jazz festivals and
clinics around the world - first class.

In 1958, at her husband's request, Mona took the celebrated home movie
footage (the only movie in existence) of the Esquire Magazine photo shoot on
a Harlem brownstone stoop that was memorialized in Jean Bach's film, A Great
Day in Harlem.

Mrs. Hinton was born in Centralia, IL, in 1919. She was the sixth of eight
children; and at the time of her birth, her family, like many others who
were part of the Great Migration, was moving from Mississippi to Ohio. After
completing high school in Sandusky, OH, she moved to Chicago and attended
Poro College, a cosmetology school run by early African American
entrepreneur, Madam Annie Malone. Although Mrs. Hinton graduated, she
realized her true talents were in bookkeeping, not hair dressing, and she
remained in Chicago as an
assistant to Madam Malone.    

Mrs. Hinton returned to school in the 70s earning bachelor and masters
degrees at Queens College of the City University of New York. She taught at
several Queens elementary schools, but gave up full-time work to accompany
her husband in his travels  

The Hintons were active in many community organizations including the St.
Albans Congregational Church and both received numerous awards and honors. 

Mrs. Hinton is survived by her daughter, Charlotte Hinton-Morgan; a
granddaughter Inez Mona Morgan; a great grandson Kamyron William Morgan, all
of Atlanta; her sister Mary Louise Bellamy of Sandusky, numerous nieces and
nephews, and countless friends around the world. 

The funeral service for Mrs. Hinton will be held Friday, May 9, at 10 am at
the St. Albans Congregational Church, 172-17 Linden Boulevard in Jamaica,
Queens (http://www.stalbanscc.org). The viewing is from 9 - 10 am. 

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to The Jazz Foundation of
America or the American Cancer Society.

____________________

I had the pleasure of spending time with Mona at a few different jazz
parties. 
She was a splendid lady. - Michelle from Peeedro

  Michelle Mobley
  660 West 11th St.
  San Pedro, CA  90731
  310-833-0947
  michelle_mobley at sbcglobal.net

--

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