Noble Sissle facts for kids
Noble Lee Sissle (born July 10, 1889 – died December 17, 1975) was an American jazz musician. He was a composer, lyricist, bandleader, and singer. He also wrote plays. Sissle is most famous for the Broadway musical Shuffle Along (1921). This show featured the popular song "I'm Just Wild About Harry".
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Noble Sissle's Early Life
Noble Sissle was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, Rev. George A. Sissle, was a pastor there. His mother, Martha Angeline Sissle, was a school teacher. She also worked as a juvenile probation officer.
When he was young, Sissle sang in church choirs. He was also a soloist with his high school's glee club in Cleveland, Ohio. Sissle went to DePauw University on a scholarship. Later, he transferred to Butler University in Indianapolis. After that, he decided to focus on music full-time.
Noble Sissle's Music Career
In 1916, Noble Sissle joined an orchestra in New York. This group was led by James Reese Europe. Sissle convinced Europe to hire his friend, Eubie Blake, who was a pianist and composer. Later that year, Sissle helped Europe create a band for the 15th Infantry Regiment. This was a Black regiment of the New York National Guard.
The "Hell Fighters" Band
This regiment later became the New York 369th Infantry "Hell Fighters" Regiment. They served bravely in France during World War I. Europe was a lieutenant, and Sissle was a sergeant and lead singer. This military band was special because it played syncopated music. Many people say it helped introduce jazz music to France. After the war, Sissle left the army. He then joined Europe's civilian version of the 369th band.
Recording and Partnership
Sissle began recording music in 1917 for the Pathé label. He sang on several records with Europe's band in 1919. Sadly, James Europe was murdered in May 1919. Sissle, with help from Eubie Blake, took charge of Europe's band for a while. Sissle and Blake had become partners after meeting in Baltimore in 1915.
Shuffle Along on Broadway
After World War I, Sissle and Blake formed a music duo called "The Dixie Duo." They performed in vaudeville shows. Then, they started working on a jazz musical called Shuffle Along. They used many songs they had written. The story for the musical was written by F. E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles.
When Shuffle Along opened in 1921, it was a huge success. It became the first hit musical on Broadway written by and about African Americans. It was also the first all-Black show to be on Broadway in over ten years. A young Josephine Baker was one of the performers. The musical introduced famous songs like "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and "Love Will Find a Way."
Later Performances and Collaborations
In 1931, Sissle and his band were filmed performing in London. They played songs like "Little White Lies" and "Happy Feet." In 1932, Sissle appeared in a short film called Pie, Pie Blackbird. He was with Nina Mae McKinney, the Nicholas Brothers, and Eubie Blake. Sissle also played piano for Adelaide Hall at the Palace Theatre in New York. He worked with other artists like Lena Horne and Duke Ellington. He was also friends with Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway, and Nat King Cole.
In 1954, Noble Sissle became a disc jockey for a New York radio station called WMGM. His radio show played music by African-American artists. Sissle was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Noble Sissle's Legacy
In 2018, a short documentary was made about Noble Sissle. It was called Noble Sissle's Syncopated Ragtime. It was directed and produced by Daniel L. Bernardi and David de Rozas.
See also
In Spanish: Noble Sissle para niños
- African American musical theater
