Altonell Hines

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Altonell Hines Matthews (1905 – August 6, 1977) was an African-American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She was in the original cast of both Porgy and Bess (1935) and Four Saints in Three Acts (1934).

Altonell Hines was born in 1905 in Norfolk, Virginia. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Livingstone College and a master's degree in early‐childhood education from Columbia University. She married opera singer Edward Matthews and they appeared in productions together, though she worked under her maiden name. In 1934, she originated the role of The Commère in Four Saints in Three Acts and her husband played St. Ignatius. They reprised their roles in the 1952 revival. In Porgy and Bess, she sang in the chorus of Catfish Row residents and her husband played the fisherman Jake.{{Cite book |last=Southern |first=Eileen |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict00sout |title=Biographical dictionary of Afro-American and African musicians |date=1982 |publisher=Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-313-21339-7}}{{Cite news |date=1977-08-09 |title=Altonell Hines Matthews, Sang in ‘Porgy and Bess’ And Eva Jessye's Choir |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/09/archives/altonell-hines-matthews-sang-in-porgy-and-bess-and-eva-jessyes.html |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Hines toured with Eva Jessye's Radio and Concert Choir.

Altonell Hines died on 6 August 1977 at her home in New York City.