Jester Hairston liked to call other Hairstons. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he called Pat Hairston [who turned out to be a while lady] and they started what became a lifelong friendship.

My parents were musicians of sorts, and pretty soon Jester and my parents became friends. One night Jester took the whole Hall Johnson [West] chorus to our house, and they sand many songs! Jeter later returned in 1954 and 1956 when my sister and brother were presidents of the Concert Choir at John Marhsall High. He gave a lecture about sprituals, then passed out music to the choir who then sang then (and well) for the first time.