Vera Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vera Hall
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adell Hall Ward |
| Born | April 6, 1902 Paynesville, Sumter County, Alabama, United States |
| Died | January 29, 1964 (aged 61) Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States |
| Genres | Folk , Piedmont blues, country blues |
Vera Hall, whose real name was Adell Hall Ward, was a famous American folk singer. She was born in Payneville, Alabama, on April 6, 1902, and passed away on January 29, 1964. Vera Hall is best known for her song "Trouble So Hard," which she recorded in 1937. Her amazing talent led to her being added to the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 2005.
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Vera Hall's Early Life and Music
Vera Hall was born in Payneville, Alabama, near Livingston. She loved to sing her whole life. Her parents, Zully Hall and Agnes Efron, taught her many songs. Some of these songs included "I Got the Home" and "In the Rock."
Vera married Nash Riddle in 1917. They had a daughter named Minnie Ada. Sadly, Nash passed away in 1920. In the late 1930s, Vera Hall's singing started to become famous across the country.
Recording Her Music
John Avery Lomax, who studied and recorded music from different cultures, met Vera Hall in the 1930s. He recorded her songs for the Library of Congress. Lomax said that Vera had the most beautiful voice he had ever recorded.
In 1937, the Library of Congress played her song "Another Man Done Gone." This was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Later, in 1943, the BBC (a British broadcasting company) played the same song. They used it as an example of American folk music.
In 1945, Vera Hall recorded more songs with Byron Arnold. These recordings were later released in 1984. The collection of folk songs was called Cornbread Crumbled in Gravy. Many people loved her song "Another Man Done Gone."
Performing in New York
In 1948, Vera Hall traveled to New York. She went with the help of Alan Lomax, John Lomax's son. She performed at the American Music Festival at Columbia University on May 15.
During this trip, Alan Lomax interviewed Vera many times. He described her voice as "mellow and pure in tone." He said her singing came from "a source of gold and light." He also noted that her voice was a "liquid, full contralto." This means she had a rich, deep singing voice.
Vera Hall passed away in January 1964 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Today, her music is still very important. Scholars and folk song fans value her recordings. They include unique examples of early blues and folk songs.
Vera Hall's Lasting Impact
Alan Lomax, John Lomax's son, also supported Vera Hall's music. He helped her perform in New York in 1948. He also put together a book called Rainbow Sign. This book was based on Vera Hall's life and stories.
The famous musician Moby used Vera Hall's music in his song. His 2000 single "Natural Blues" is based on her 1937 song "Trouble So Hard." It's a fun coincidence that Moby, whose real name is Richard Melville Hall, shares her last name!
To honor Vera Hall, a special historical marker was placed in Livingston on April 21, 2007. This marker helps people remember her contributions to music.
Her 1959 version of "O, Death" was also featured in a TV show. It appeared in an episode of Altered Carbon, a Netflix original series.
