Gerri Hall facts for kids

Gerri Hall, born on August 2, 1934, is an American singer. She is famous for her rhythm and blues (R&B) music. Gerri Hall is best known for singing with a group called Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns.

Gerri Hall's Early Life and Start in Music

Gerri Hall was born Erdine Bouise in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has African, Spanish, and American Indian heritage. Gerri admired the comedian Jerry Lewis. She even named herself "Gerri" after him. Her last name, Hall, came from her former husband. He was the brother of Rosemary Hall Domino, who was married to the famous musician Fats Domino.

Joining The Clowns

Gerri Hall used to work as a waitress. She worked at a club called the Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans. There, she met two musicians, Huey Smith and Bobby Marchan. They invited her to join their band, The Clowns, in 1957.

Gerri became a very important member of The Clowns. She sang on many of their popular songs. One famous song she sang on was "Don't You Just Know It." She also recorded music with Huey Smith as a duo. They were known as 'Huey and Jerry'.

Other Music Projects

Besides her work with Huey Smith, Gerri also sang with other artists. In 1962, she did backing vocals for Earl King. This was for two songs called "Don't You Lose It" and "Don't Cry My Friend." These songs were released on a record label called Post.

Gerri also performed live shows in New Orleans. She sang with musicians like Benny Spellman and Smiley Lewis.

Solo Career and TV Appearances

Gerri Hall also released her own songs as a solo artist. She put out several singles in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1966, she appeared on a TV show called The !!!! Beat. Hoss Allen was the host of this music show.

One of her singles, "I Cried a Tear," was released in 1966. It was first on the RAI label. Later, another record company, Atco Records, helped distribute it more widely. This helped more people hear her music.

Later Career and Performances

After her solo career, Gerri Hall joined a famous group. She became a member of The Raelettes, who sang with Ray Charles.

In May 1981, Gerri performed with The Clowns again. This show was at a place called Tipitina's. It is thought to be the last time The Clowns performed live. After this, Gerri did not perform much. However, she did appear at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans. She was a panelist at their conferences in 2010 and 2011.

Gerri Hall's Music Releases

Gerri Hall released many songs and albums throughout her career. Here are some of her notable recordings.

Singles Released

Compilation Albums