Then, in 1964, thanks to Stanley Dance, his determined friend and unofficial manager, Hines was "suddenly rediscovered" following a series of recitals at the Little Theatre in New York, which Dance had cajoled him into. They were the first piano recitals Hines had ever given; they caused a sensation. "What is there left to hear after you've heard Earl Hines?", asked John Wilson of "The New York Times". Hines then won the 1966 International Critics Poll for "Down Beat" magazine's Hall of Fame. "Down Beat" also elected him the world's "No. 1 Jazz Pianist" in 1966 (and did so again five more times). "Jazz Journal" awarded his LPs of the year first and second in its overall poll and first, second and third in its piano category. "Jazz" voted him "Jazzman of the Year" and picked him for its number 1 and number 2 places in the category Piano Recordings. Hines was invited to appear on TV shows hosted by Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas.