Earl Hines was one best jazz pianists of all time, and was enormously influential for many who came along later, including Nat Cole and even Art Tatum. He built his reputation as a soloist early in the jazz age, and in 1928 debuted his own big band. For the next two decades it was one of the most successful - and respected - groups around, and helped further the careers of many of the greats. He even helped give a start to the bebop movement by employing Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillispie in the early years of their careers.

In the early 1940s, singer Billy Eckstine joined the band and was a big hit for several years, but eventually moved on. By the late 1940s the big bands were finding it difficult to survive and Hines dissolved the group, later joining Louis Armstrong and others in various ensembles. He also led his own smaller groups and continued to be a much-admired jazz legend for decades, performing regularly until his death at age 79.

Although I only have one tune by Hines, my other multiples are numerous and they  cross genre boundaries too. For example, Latin jazz is well-represented — I have five versions of "Besame Mucho", six of "Wave," and seven of "Brazil." But my number one multiple is Ellington's immortal composition, "In A Sentimental Mood," which shows up ten times in my collection — and I want more. I guess I've become a multiple-music addict.