Opera Singer Jerome Hines

Celebrities, Celebrity Q&A, People
on November 14, 2004
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I would like to know about Jerome Hines, Metropolitan Opera’s bass vocalist for many years.

—Norma S., Oklahoma

Hines, who died last year at age 81, performed in 39 different operas at the Met in New York City before retiring in 1987. He spent 41 years at the Metropolitan Opera, where he sang most of the great roles for bass vocalists, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Verdi’s Padre Guardiano. He was known for his rich timbre, his 6-foot-6-inch athletic build and the research he conducted of the characters he portrayed. After retirement, Hines continued performing with regional opera companies and at benefits. The Hollywood, Calif., native graduated from UCLA, taught chemistry for a year and worked as an oil company chemist before his singing career took off.