Nashville born and bred, a graduate of historic Fisk University, Melvin Hinton completed a paid internship — and turned down a full-time job offer — at The New York Times News Service before going on to graduate school. Melvin was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, then a Fulbright Fellow, spending two years in France before moving to Spain, where he lived for many years. He has taught Spanish language and literature at the UW-Madison, at Texas A&M University, at The University of the South, at Tennessee State University, and elsewhere. He has also taught French. He was a Reader for the Spanish Advanced Placement Exam for fourteen years.
Melvin has also spent extensive time on stage – both in front of the curtain and behind. Besides acting with The Madrid Players, and with Kathy Seley in Murray Schisgal’s The Typists, Melvin toured Spain with Donna Hightower’s gospel music ensemble. He was Reverend Sykes in a CTM production of To Kill a Mockingbird, at Madison’s Overture Center. Melvin directed students at the U. S. Cultural Center in Madrid and at The University of the South, and a “Queer Short” at the Bartell Theater in Madison. He also served as director for Jacinto Benavente’s El nietecito at Tennessee State University. He has also presented several programs of poetry at the Madison Public Library, and performs—most notably with Quanda Johnson—for Fermat’s Last Theater.
In addition, Melvin Hinton produces and hosts Radio Literature on WORT-fm radio (wortfm.org) every Thursday at 7:30 pm.
