America's Basso

Pamela Trainor Hines writes a beautifully detailed and poignant account of the life of basso Jerome Hines, who performed for the Metropolitan Opera for 41 years. The author, Hines' daughter-in-law, gives the reader an insider's peek at the life of a man who was deeply committed to his family, faith and profession. Hines shared publicly his belief that he could hear God speaking to him. He also offered information in opera journals and authored books about how he was able to stay vocally healthy for sixty years of his professional life. The author explores Hines' beginnings in Hollywood, California, recounting how his father needed to be convinced of his sons' talent before allowing Jerry to be a professional singer. Trainor Hines describes his childhood, including early years with a foster family, and parents who were trying to make a living in the movie business, as well as the events that caused the young basso to explore Evangelical beliefs. In her research, Trainor Hines approached the writing of this book with a commitment to documentation rather than sensationalism and poured through boxes of the basso's personal memoirs, letters and documents, spoke with family members and friends, and scoured clippings and personal interviews. This deeply personal book will lead you through Jerome Hines' fascinating life: his years at the Met, performance in Moscow for Nikita Khrushchev on the eve of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the challenges of raising a son with Downs Syndrome, a battle with skin cancer, his composition and worldwide performance of "I Am the Way" about the life of Christ, and his marriage to Lucia Evangelista, an Italian lyric soprano who died in 2000 of ALS. Jerome Hines is a stunning tribute to a man who lived a life that reflected his convictions. Hines, who died in 2003, is considered America's best Boris Godunov.