Alberta Hunter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alberta Hunter
Hunter in 1979
Background information
Also known as	May Alix, Josephine Beatty
Born	(1895-04-01)April 1, 1895 Memphis, Tennessee
Died	October 17, 1984(1984-10-17) (aged 89) Roosevelt Island, New York
Genres	Jazz, blues
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1914–84
Labels	Black Swan, Paramount, Gennett, OKeh, Victor, Columbia, Decca, Bluebird, Bluesville
Associated acts	Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday

Alberta Hunter (born April 1, 1895 – died October 17, 1984) was a famous American jazz and blues singer. She was also a talented songwriter. Alberta sang from the early 1920s until the late 1950s. After working as a nurse for twenty years, she started singing again in 1977. She became very popular once more.

Growing Up

Alberta Hunter was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother, Laura Peterson, worked as a maid. Her father, Charles Hunter, was a Pullman porter. Alberta said she never knew her father. She went to Grant Elementary School in Memphis. She called it Auction School. She went to school until she was about 15 years old.

Alberta had a tough childhood. Her father left when she was young. Her mother worked hard to support the family. In 1906, her mother married again. Alberta was not happy with her new family. Around age 11, she left for Chicago, Illinois. She hoped to become a singer there. She heard singers could earn $10 an hour. Instead, she worked at a boardinghouse. She earned $6 a week, plus a place to stay and food. Soon after, her mother left Memphis and moved in with her.

Her Amazing Music Career

Starting Out: 1910s–1940s

In Chicago, Alberta worked hard. She peeled potatoes during the day. At night, she visited clubs. She was determined to get a singing job. Her hard work paid off. Alberta started singing in small clubs. She slowly became a star. She eventually headlined at the Dreamland ballroom. This was a top place for black entertainers. She sang there for five years, starting in 1917. Her pay went up to $35 a week.

She first traveled to Europe in 1917. She performed in Paris and London. People in Europe treated her with great respect. They saw her as a true artist. This made a big impression on her.

Her career as a singer and songwriter grew in the 1920s and 1930s. She performed in clubs and musicals. She sang in both New York City and London. She wrote many songs. One famous song she wrote was "Downhearted Blues" (1922).

She made many records in the 1920s. She recorded for different labels. These included Black Swan Records and Paramount Records. She also recorded for OKeh Records and Columbia Records. While at Paramount, she also used the name May Alix.

Alberta wrote "Downhearted Blues" with Lovie Austin. She recorded it for Paramount Records. But she only received $368 in royalties. The person in charge secretly sold the song's rights. All the money went to him. The song became a huge hit for Columbia Records. Bessie Smith sang it. This record sold almost a million copies. When Alberta found out, she stopped recording for him.

In 1928, Alberta played Queenie. This was in the London show of Show Boat. She performed with Paul Robeson. After that, she sang in nightclubs across Europe. She also performed with Jack Jackson's orchestra in London. One of her songs with Jackson was "Miss Otis Regrets".

She made several recordings with the orchestra. She also appeared in a movie called Radio Parade of 1935. This was a British film. Alberta's part was one of the few in color. She spent the late 1930s performing in Europe and America. In the early 1940s, she performed at home.

Alberta moved to New York City. She performed with Bricktop. She also recorded with Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. One of her hits was "Cake Walking Babies (From Home)". She sang it with Clarence Todd. It featured Bechet and Armstrong. She kept performing around the world. She also led the U.S.O.'s first black show. She did this until her mother passed away.

In 1944, she took a U.S.O. group to Casablanca. She kept entertaining soldiers. She performed throughout World War II. She also performed in the early years after the war. In the 1950s, she led U.S.O. groups in Korea. But her mother died in 1957. This made Alberta want a big change in her life.

A New Path: Late 1950s–1970s

Alberta said that when her mother died, she lost her desire to perform. They had been very close. So, she decided to become a nurse. She changed her age to seem younger. She also "made up" a high school diploma. Then, she enrolled in nursing school. She worked as a nurse for 20 years. She worked at Goldwater Memorial Hospital in Roosevelt Island.

The hospital made Alberta retire. They thought she was 70 years old. But Alberta was actually 82! She decided to return to singing. She had made two albums in the early 1960s. But now, she got a regular singing job. It was at a club in Greenwich Village. She sang there until she died in October 1984.

The Big Comeback: 1970s–1980s

In 1961, Alberta was still working as a nurse. But she was asked to record two albums. In 1971, she was filmed for a Danish TV show. She also did an interview for the Smithsonian Institution.

In the summer of 1976, Alberta went to a party. It was for her friend Mabel Mercer. A music agent, Charles Bourgeois, asked Alberta to sing. He then introduced her to Barney Josephson. He owned a club called The Cookery. Josephson offered Alberta a short singing job there. Her two-week performance was a huge hit! It turned into a six-year job. This brought her music career back to life.

John Hammond was impressed by the news. He signed Alberta to Columbia Records. He had not been interested in her before. But he knew Barney Josephson from years ago. Her Columbia albums included The Glory of Alberta Hunter and Amtrak Blues. She sang "Darktown Strutters' Ball" on Amtrak Blues. Her album Look For the Silver Lining also came out. These albums sold well. She also appeared on many TV shows. She had a small role in the 1978 film Remember My Name. The producer, Robert Altman, asked her to write and sing the music for the movie.

Her Life Outside Music

In 1919, Alberta married Willard Saxby Townsend. He was a former soldier. He later became a leader for baggage handlers. Their marriage did not last long. They separated in a few months. Alberta did not want to stop her singing career. They officially divorced in 1923.

In August 1927, she traveled to France. She was with Lottie Tyler. Lottie was the niece of comedian Bert Williams. Alberta and Lottie had met in Chicago years before. They remained close for many years.

Alberta Hunter is buried in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Many famous people are buried there.

Alberta's life was shown in a TV movie. It was called Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin' (1988). It was a documentary narrated by Billy Taylor. There was also a musical play about her. It was called Cookin' at the Cookery. It has toured the United States.

Alberta was honored for her music. She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011. She also joined the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Her comeback album, Amtrak Blues, was honored by the Blues Hall of Fame in 2009.

See Also

In Spanish: Alberta Hunter para niños