Tubby Hall facts for kids
Alfred "Tubby" Hall (born October 12, 1895 – died May 13, 1945) was an American jazz drummer. He was known for his strong and steady drumming style.
Hall was born in Sellers, Louisiana. His family moved to New Orleans when he was a child. His younger brother, Minor "Ram" Hall, also became a professional drummer. Tubby Hall played in many marching bands in New Orleans, including with Buddie Petit.
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Tubby Hall's Music Journey
In March 1917, Tubby Hall moved to Chicago. There, he started playing with a musician named Sugar Johnny Smith.
Playing with Famous Bands
After serving two years in the United States Army, he returned to Chicago. He mostly played with bands that had come from New Orleans. He joined Carroll Dickerson's Orchestra and even recorded music with them in 1927. Later, he played with groups led by famous jazz musicians like King Oliver, Jimmie Noone, Tiny Parham, and Johnny Dodds.
A Drummer's Drummer
Even other drummers admired Tubby Hall. A well-known swing and big-band drummer named Gene Krupa once said that Hall and another drummer, Zutty Singleton, were "great!" Krupa explained that they knew how to play drums perfectly behind the horns (wind instruments). They knew when to use drumsticks or brushes, and how to use different parts of the drum set to create the right sound.
Tubby Hall in Movies
In the early 1930s, Tubby Hall appeared in movies with the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong. These included a live-action film and a Betty Boop cartoon called I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You (1932). He also appeared in A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932). Both movies were made by Paramount. In the cartoon, Hall's face was shown as a character stirring a cooking pot with sticks.
His Drumming Style
Tubby Hall's drumming was powerful and steady. He often kept a constant beat on the snare drum. A jazz critic named Hugues Panassié thought Hall was one of the three best jazz drummers of his time. The other two were Zutty Singleton and Warren "Baby" Dodds.
Tubby Hall passed away in Chicago.
