We truly have lost a wonderful screen legend over the weekend.

Actor-Entertainer Gregory Hines, arguably the greatest tap dancer of his generation, died on Saturday in Los Angeles of cancer. He was 57. Dubbed "the Pied Piper of modern tap," Gregory was born in Brooklyn, New York and started tap dancing with his older brother, Maurice at the age of three. By the age of six, he and his brother were an successful tap-dancing act called the Hines Kids, performing regularly at Harlem's Apollo Theater.

Gregory later performed on Broadway and then went on to do movies and television. Gregory's most notable movie credits include: The Cotton Club (1984), Tap (1989) and Bojangles (2001) for HBO, for which he won an Emmy award for Best Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie. He also won a 1992 Best Actor Tony award for his performance in the Broadway musical Jelly's Last Jam.

"He was the last of a kind of immaculate performer -- a singer, dancer, actor and a personality," said George C. Wolfe, who directed Gregory in Jelly’s Last Jam. "He knew how to command."

In addition to his brother and father, Maurice Sr., Hines is survived by his fiancée, Negrita Jayde, daughter Dana, son Zach, stepdaughter Jessica Koslow and grandson Lucian. A private funeral will be held in Los Angeles this week.

Not only was Gregory a great entertainer, tap dancer, and actor . . . but he was a wonderful human being and a shining beacon for the performing arts. Simply stated, Gregory was black America's Gene Kelly . . . maybe even our own Bob Hope.

RIP Gregory Hines . . . we will always love you.

Holla!