Milton John Hinton, known as Milt Hinton, was born on June 23, 1910, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was an influential American jazz double bassist, photographer, and educator. Hinton's early life in Mississippi was marked by poverty and racial discrimination, but he moved to Chicago in 1919, where he was exposed to a diverse African-American community and a vibrant music scene. Initially a violinist, he switched to the double bass due to limited opportunities for violinists and began working as a freelance musician in Chicago.

Hinton gained prominence as a bassist during his 15-year tenure with Cab Calloway's orchestra from 1936 to 1951, where he was noted for his full tone and rhythmic vigor. He was a master of the slap bass technique and was featured on Calloway's "Pluckin' the Bass." After leaving Calloway, Hinton worked with jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Count Basie and became a prolific session musician in New York City, recording with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Billie Holiday.

In addition to his musical career, Hinton was an accomplished photographer, capturing over 60,000 images of fellow musicians and documenting American jazz. His photographs were featured in his autobiography, "Bass Line," and the book "Over Time." Hinton was also a dedicated educator, teaching at Hunter and Baruch colleges in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s. He passed away on December 19, 2000, in Queens, New York, leaving behind a legacy as a revered musician and chronicler of jazz history.