Adelaide Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adelaide Hall
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Adelaide Louise Hall
20 October 1901 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
|
| Died | 7 November 1993 (aged 92) London, England
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1921–1992 |
| Spouse(s) |
Bertram Hicks
(m. 1924; died 1963) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
Adelaide Louise Hall (born October 20, 1901 – died November 7, 1993) was an amazing jazz singer and entertainer. She was born in America but later lived in the UK. Her career lasted over 70 years, from 1921 until she passed away. She was a very important person during the Harlem Renaissance, a time when Black artists, writers, and musicians created a lot of great work.
In 2003, Adelaide Hall was even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. She was recognized as the world's most long-lasting recording artist. This was because she released music for eight decades in a row! She performed with many famous artists like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller. Her most famous song was "Creole Love Call" with Duke Ellington in 1927.
Contents
Adelaide Hall's Early Life and Marriage
Adelaide Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1901. Her parents were Elizabeth and William Hall. Adelaide and her sister, Evelyn, went to the Pratt Institute. Their father, William, taught piano there.
Sadly, her father died in 1917. Three years later, her sister Evelyn passed away from the flu in 1920. This meant Adelaide had to support herself and her mother.
In 1924, Adelaide married Bertram Errol Hicks. He was a British sailor from Trinidad and Tobago. Soon after they got married, Bertram opened a club in Harlem, New York, called "The Big Apple." He also became Adelaide's business manager.
Adelaide Hall's Music Career
Adelaide Hall started her stage career in 1921. She was in the chorus line of a Broadway musical called Shuffle Along. This show was a huge success and helped start her career. She then appeared in other Black musical shows. In 1923, she sang the hit song "Old-Fashioned Love" in Runnin' Wild on Broadway.
Adelaide later joined the cast of the Chocolate Kiddies show in New York. They practiced there before traveling to Europe. Their tour began in Hamburg, Germany, in May 1925. It ended in Paris, France, in December 1925, after visiting many big cities.
In October 1927, Adelaide recorded her famous wordless vocals. She sang on "Creole Love Call" and "The Blues I Love To Sing." She recorded these songs with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. On November 3, 1927, she also recorded "Chicago Stomp Down" with them. "Creole Love Call" became a worldwide hit. It made both Adelaide and Duke Ellington very famous.
In 1928, Adelaide Hall starred on Broadway in Blackbirds of 1928. She performed with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. This show became the most successful all-Black show on Broadway at that time. It made Adelaide and Bojangles very well-known. In Europe, Adelaide was as popular as Josephine Baker.
_N%C2%B077.JPG)
The songs from Blackbirds were written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. Adelaide's performances of songs like "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" and "Diga Diga Do" made them popular hits. These songs remained favorites throughout her long career.
In 1931, Adelaide went on a world concert tour. She visited America and Europe. It's believed that over one million people saw her perform. During this tour, she performed four times at New York's Palace Theatre. She had two pianists playing white grand pianos on stage with her. On this tour, Adelaide discovered and hired the blind pianist Art Tatum. She brought him back to New York with her. In August 1932, Adelaide recorded songs like "Strange as It Seems" with Art Tatum as one of her pianists.
Adelaide arrived in Paris, France, in the fall of 1935. She lived there until 1938. Her husband, Bert, opened a nightclub for her in Paris called La Grosse Pomme. Adelaide often performed there.
After many years of performing, Adelaide moved to the United Kingdom in 1938. She starred in a musical called The Sun Never Sets. She was so successful and popular with British audiences that she decided to stay. She became one of Britain's most loved entertainers. Adelaide lived in London from 1938 until she died.
Adelaide's career was almost always a success. She made over 70 records for Decca. She also had her own BBC Radio show called Wrapped in Velvet. This made her the first Black artist to have a long-term contract with the BBC. She performed on stage, in films, and in nightclubs. She even owned her own clubs in New York, London, and Paris. In the 1940s, especially during World War II, she was very popular. She performed for both regular people and soldiers. She became one of Britain's highest-paid entertainers.
Adelaide Hall's Later Years and Death
Adelaide Hall passed away on November 7, 1993, at the age of 92. She died peacefully in London. She wanted her funeral to be in New York. She was buried next to her mother in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn.
A memorial service was held for her in London. Many famous people attended, including Elaine Paige and Michael Parkinson. Michael Parkinson said during his speech, "Adelaide lived to be ninety-two and never grew old."
Adelaide Hall's Legacy
In June 2020, British Vogue magazine recognized Adelaide Hall. They included her in their list of "7 Remarkable Black Women Who Shaped British History."
Black Plaque Awarded to Adelaide Hall, 2021
In 2021, Adelaide Hall received a special honor. The Black Plaque Project gave her a plaque. This project celebrates the achievements of Black people. The plaque is at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. Adelaide recorded there with Fats Waller. Her plaque is number 15 in the project.
One Minute Theatre Top 10 People of Colour in Musicals, 2021
In March 2021, 1 Minute Theatre Reviews also honored Adelaide Hall. They included her in their list of 10 "people of color who have made a major contribution to the stage musical."
Women Inspire Podcast, 2021
Adelaide Hall - "Sing to the moon Addie and the stars will shine." In January 2021, the Women Inspire podcast dedicated an episode to Adelaide Hall's life. It was titled "Sing to the moon Addie and the stars will shine."
Adelaide Hall's Recordings and Films
Adelaide Hall recorded many songs throughout her long career. She released music on labels like Victor, Columbia, and Decca. Her song "Creole Love Call" with Duke Ellington was a big hit in the US in 1928. She also had several songs that charted in the UK, including "Careless" and "Begin the Beguine" in 1940.
Adelaide also appeared in several films and TV shows. Some of her films include A Son of Satan (1924) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). She also appeared in TV documentaries and concerts later in her life.
|
See also
In Spanish: Adelaide Hall para niños
