Ernie Hines

Born Earnest Lee Pickford-Hines (his mother Sophia Idella Pickford; his father, Tommie Lee Hines, a World War 11 Purple Heart recipient), Ernie has done it all from the boys glee club and choral music groups in school to singing in his uncle’s family quartet: from playing semi-pro baseball (Duluth, Minnesota) and quarterback of his high school and college football teams; to performing with local gospel groups of Jackson, Mississippi.

Shortly after starting to play the guitar, Ernie and his family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he began working with a local singing group before settling in with his own gospel group, the Scotland-Aires, who quickly became a household name after recording a radio commercial for a well known bakery in the city, Wolf’s Bakery.

While living in Baton Rouge, Ernie's musical taste began to expand. He started to play music in all areas of entertainment, from the Slim Harpo Blues Band to the Joe Valentine’s R&B Pop Band. He played gigs with some of his childhood favorites, such as Lowell Fulsom and Clyde McPhatter. He worked with Johnnie Taylor, Roscoe Robinson, and on recommendation of a popular local radio Deejay, Ernie became a personal guitarist for L.C. Cook.

During filming of the movie, “Hurry Sundown”, in Baton Rouge, Ernie worked with famed Producer/Director Otto Priminger and music maestro Hugo Montenegro in setting up the musical score for the title song of the movie soundtrack. He also taught actor Robert Hooks to pantomime the guitar for a big closing scene.

After accepting an offer from Roscoe Robinson, Ernie moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue his writing and recording career. His first effort, which was released on USA Records in the late sixties, was recorded in the famed Chess Records studio, and was comprised of four R&B songs: We’re Gonna Party, Thank You Baby (For A Love Beyond Compare), Rain, Rain, Rain, and Sincerely Mine.

During that same period, Ernie wrote gospel songs that were recorded by the Violinaires of Detroit, Michigan, R&B songs for Little Ben & the Cheers (sons of the famous Norfleet Brothers Quartet of Chicago), and co-wrote songs recorded by the Lovelites. A prolific writer and composer, more than fifty of his songs have been recorded over the years.

In 1970 Ernie was signed by Al Bell to Stax Records of Memphis, Tennessee and recorded three singles and an album, Electrified Ernie Hines. He was one of the performers at the Watt/Stax Revue in Los Angeles before 90,000 fans. He then worked the “nightclub/cocktail lounge” circuit through the eighties. Ernie’s records are on the Wall of Fame in the new Stax Museum of American Soul Music located at 870 East McLemore Avenue, Memphis.

Colorful Music Publishing and Baby Blue Records are both Ernie's companies and were incorporated in 2000. A single compact disc The Lovin’ Crown – (b/w) – Put It to Music – was released on his record label in 2003. It was to be included on the album, Ernie Hines: Then and Now.

Before the follow-up to that R&B – Reggae mixed – single CD release (now a collectors item since it is his last secular recording), Ernie had a "change of heart", a deep spiritual re-awakening and has since re-dedicated himself to the music that first made his heart sing, that of singing praises to God and spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

"Back where I belong, faithful servant to God Almighty, on a mission for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," says Ernie. He is in good standing and an active member of the Forest Park Baptist Church of Forest Park, Illinois since 1975. He actively participates in Bible study groups and has served on various committees.

A long time resident of Forest Park, since 1975, Ernie has been a part of the growth of “The Village With The Friendly Smile,” beginning with Mayor Fred Marunde to the presiding mayor, Anthony Calderone; a member of District 91 School Advisory Board, the F.P. Main Street Redevelopment, and the F.P. Chamber of Commerce. Ernie was a performer at the Centennial Celebration of Forest Park in 2007.

He is long time member of the Chicago (Local 10-208) and American Federation of Musicians & Canada unions. Ernie also has credentials in the jewelry business with twenty-one years experience as a DCA guild gemologist/diamontologist. He is GIA certified.

The current CD on Baby Blue Records, Ernie Hines: There is a Way, is filled with inspirational songs of faith, hope, and love. It is well written and well produced by the man with a voice that is, as one minister put it, “As smooth as silk!” Expect new musical insights from Ernie soon.

Visit our Website: www.colorfulmusicbabyblue.com
E-mail us: ernie@colorfulmusicbabyblue.com
Address: CMBBR, Inc. P.O. Box 7 Forest Park, IL 60130
Phone: (708) 771-3945