Sophisticated Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall

Source: Black Kudos

Born on 20 October 1901 in Brooklyn, Adelaide Hall's career on Broadway is traced to as early as a bridesmaid's role in 'My Little Friend' in May of 1913 at the New Amsterdam Theatre [Broadway World / IBDB]. Studying at the Pratt Institute as a teenager, by 1918 her father and sister had died. She appeared in multiple stage productions including 'Shuffle Along' on Broadway (1921) and 'Chocolate Kiddies' which toured to Europe (1925). She had married a British sailor, Bertram Hicks, in 1924 who would become her business manager. She may have appeared in the silent reel of 'A Son of Satan' as early as 1924 [IMDb unconfirmed] as well.

Hall initially recorded with Duke Ellington in Camden, New Jersey, on 26 October 1927: 'Creole Love Call' (Victor 21137), 'The Blues I Love to Sing' (Victor 21490) [Lord]. 'Chicago Stomp Down' (Okeh 8675) followed on 3 November.

'Creole Love Call'   Duke Ellington Orchestra backing Adelaide Hall

26 Oct 1927 in Camden NJ   Matrix 39370-1 1st of 2 takes

Hall's first recording issued on Victor 21137

Trumpet: Bubber Miley / Louis Metcalf   Trombone: Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton

Clarinet / sax: Otto Hardwick / Harry Carney / Rudy Jackson

Piano: Ellington   Banjo: Fred Guy   Bass: Wellman Braud    Drums: Sonny Greer

Music: Ellington / Miley   Lyrics: Rudy Jackson

'Blues I Love to Sing'   Duke Ellington Orchestra backing Adelaide Hall

26 Oct 1927 in Camden NJ   Matrix 39371-1 1st of 2 takes

Hall's third recording issued on Victor 21490

Trumpet: Bubber Miley / Louis Metcalf   Trombone: Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton

Clarinet / sax: Otto Hardwick / Harry Carney / Rudy Jackson

Piano: Ellington   Banjo: Fred Guy   Bass: Wellman Braud    Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Ellington

The next year Hall appeared on Broadway in 'Blackbirds of 1928' with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson from May into June. That role made her a big name of a sudden, followed by another with Robinson in 1930 in 'Brown Buddies'.

'Baby'   Lew Leslie Blackbirds Orchestra backing Adelaide Hall

14 Aug 1928 in NYC   Matrix E-28060   Brunswick 4031

Trumpet: Pike Davis / Demas Dean   Trombone: Herb Flemming

Clarinet / alto sax / flute: Carmello Jejo / Albert Socarras

Tenor sax / violin: Ramon Usera

Piano / arrangement: George Rickson   Banjo: Benny James

Bass: Henry "Bass" Edwards    Drums: Jesse Baltimore

Music: Jimmy McHugh   Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

Hall toured in both Europe and America in 1931. She assumed an uncredited role in 'Dancers in the Dark' in Hollywood in 1932 and would appear in movies and television numerously thereafter throughout her career. Returning to New York in fall of 1932, Hall and her husband purchased an estate in Larchmont, New York, thought to be too high end for black folks. She was threatened with eviction and her new home set afire (attempted). Such troubles would contribute to reasons for later moving to London in 1938.

In 1933 Hall toured America again, including the World's Fair in Chicago, and was a featured star in the 'Stormy Weather Revue' at Harlem's Cotton Club.

'Drop Me Off In Harlem'   Mills Blue Rhythm Band backing Adelaide Hall

4 Dec 1933 in NYC   1 of 2 takes   Issue unknown

Composition: Ellington / Nick Kenny

In 1934 Hall appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in 'Chocolate Soldiers', then again at the Cotton Club in 'The Cotton Club Parade' (24th edition). Hall arrived to Paris in 1935 where Josephine Baker had been performing since 1925, another American export to Europe. Hall's husband, Hicks, there opened La Grosse Pomme nightclub in Montmarte at 73 rue Pigalle where Django Reinhardt performed with Stephane Grappelli in their quintet. Hall also recorded in Paris in 1936, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1937.

'To Love You Again'   Adelaide Hall

Vitaphone film 'All-Coloured Vaudeville Show' released 1935

Music: Harry Revel   Lyrics: Mack Gordon

'I'm Shooting High'   Willie Lewis & His Entertainers backing Adelaide Hall

5 May 1936 in Paris   Matrix CPT2649-1   Pathe 914

Trumpet: Bill Coleman / Bobby Martin   Trombone: Billy Burns

Clarinet / tenor sax: Frank "Big Boy" Goudie

Sax: Willie Lewis / George Johnson / Joe Hayman

Piano: Herman Chittison   Guitar: John Mitchell

Bass: Louis Vola   Drums: Ted Fields

Composition: Jimmy McHugh / Ted Koehler

'There's a Lull in My Life'   Kai Ewans Orkester backing Adelaide Hall

Nov 1937 in Copenhagen   Matrix C-596   Tono K6001

Trumpet: Olof Carlsson / Axel Skouby   Trombone: Peter Rasmussen

Clarinet / alto sax: Kai Ewans / Kai Moller / Aage Voss

Clarinet / tenor sax: Evald Andersen

Piano: Amdi Riis   Bass: Willy Sorensen   Drums: Erik Kragh

Composition: Harry Revel / Mack Gordon

'Stormy Weather'   Kai Ewans Orkester backing Adelaide Hall

Nov 1937 in Copenhagen   Matrix C-597   Tono K6002

Trumpet: Olof Carlsson / Axel Skouby   Trombone: Peter Rasmussen

Clarinet / alto sax: Kai Ewans / Kai Moller / Aage Voss

Clarinet / tenor sax: Evald Andersen

Piano: Amdi Riis   Bass: Willy Sorensen   Drums: Erik Kragh

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler

'Where or When'   Kai Ewans Orkester backing Adelaide Hall

Nov 1937 in Copenhagen   Matrix C-598   Tono K6002

Trumpet: Olof Carlsson / Axel Skouby   Trombone: Peter Rasmussen

Clarinet / alto sax: Kai Ewans / Kai Moller / Aage Voss

Clarinet / tenor sax: Evald Andersen

Piano: Amdi Riis   Bass: Willy Sorensen   Drums: Erik Kragh

Music: Richard Rodgers   Lyrics: Lorenz Hart

In early 1939 Hall and Hicks opened the Florida Club in London, soon lost in the London Blitz (1940-41) of World War II (1939-45), after which Hall worked with the BBC and entertained troops for ENSA that was the British equivalent of the USO. Hall's BBC Radio broadcast of 'You're Blasé' had to have gone down in 1939 prior to 12:35 pm on 1 September because that's when broadcasting was shut down to prepare for the war. The last television broadcast for the next seven years was the cartoon, 'Mickey's Gala Premiere' at 12:05 pm [BBC / BBC / Kiddle].

Composition: Ord Hamilton 1931 / Bruce Sievier   Lyrics

'T'ain't What You Do It's the Way That Cha Do It'   Adelaide Hall

From the Pathetone Weekly film 'Behind the Blackout' at the Florida Club in London

Released 8 Jan 1940   Interview at 1 minute is unidentified

Composition: Melvin Sy Oliver / James Trummy Young

'I Wanna Be Loved'   Adelaide Hall

Recording unidentified   Issued 9 Oct 1940 on Decca F 7636

Composition: Edward Heyman / Billy Rose / Johnny Green

After the war Hall continued in radio and television for the BBC and performed as a cabaret singer. She starred in the British film, 'A World is Turning', which began production in January 1948 but was neither finished nor released. She and Hicks opened another nightclub in London in the early fifties called the Calypso on Regent Street.

Adelaide Hall on the 'Variety in Sepia' television special

BBC RadiOlympia (Radio Olympia) on 7 Oct 1947

'The Gospel Train'   Adelaide Hall

From the unreleased film 'A World Is Turning' of 1948

Composition: Wikipedia

'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'   Adelaide Hall

From the unreleased film 'A World Is Turning' of 1948

Composition: Wikipedia

First recorded by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1909

Hall recorded 'Sophisticated Lady' in 1975 for inclusion on the album, 'Hall of Ellington' per Columbia SCX 6586 / 0C 062. Just how sophisticated she was the world will probably never know, but much of what goes for sophistication these days she might have considered a little overrated. I don't know but might suppose that Sievier's 'You're Blasé' of 1931 (above) addresses someone on the sophisticated side. Hall began working across the Atlantic in the States again in 1980, eventually appearing at Carnegie Hall in 1988. In January of 1989 she contributed to Ellington's 'The Royal Ellington Concert' recorded at Royal Festival Hall in London. Tom Lord traces her to as late as April of 1989 toward the album, 'Live at The Riverside Studios' on Jay Productions CDVIR8312, that also used in the Hall documentary, 'Sophisticated Lady', of 1989.

'Sophisticated Lady'   Adelaide Hall   Television

'Terry Wogan Show'   1984

Music: Duke Ellington 1932   Lyrics: Mitchell Parish   Lyrics

'I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby'   Adelaide Hall   Television

Riverside Studios in London   21 or 22 April 1989

Tenor sax: Benny Waters   Piano: Mike Pyne

Bass: Dave Green   Drums: Ron Hetherington

Music: Jimmy McHugh 1927   Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

'Down By the Riverside'   Adelaide Hall

Riverside Studios in London   Prob 22 April 1989

Tenor sax: Benny Waters   Piano: Mike Pyne

Bass: Dave Green   Drums: Ron Hetherington

Wrapping track from the album 'Live at The Riverside Studios' issued 1990

Composition: Wikipedia

Also recorded circa 1989 was 'I Touched a Star' thought released in 1990. The 1927-1939 compilation, 'Hall of Memories', saw issue in 1990 as well. Hall's final public appearance was at Carnegie Hall in 1992. She died on 7 November of 1993 in London.