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{{Short description|American musician (born 1936)}}

{{BLP sources|date=April 2023}}
'''Corky Hale''' (born July 3, 1936) is an American jazz harpist, pianist, flutist, and vocalist. She has been a theater producer, political activist, restaurateur, and the owner of the Corky Hale women's clothing store in Los Angeles, California.
'''Corky Hale''' (born July 3, 1936) is an American jazz harpist, pianist, flutist, and vocalist. She has been a theater producer, political activist, restaurateur, and the owner of the Corky Hale women's clothing store in Los Angeles, California.


== Early life and education==
== Early life and education==
On July 3, 1936, Hale was born Merrilyn Hecht in [[Freeport, Illinois]].<ref name="Chadbourne">{{cite web |last1=Chadbourne |first1=Eugene |title=Corky Hale |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/corky-hale-mn0000117089/biography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=1 October 2020 }}</ref> She learned piano, harp, flute, and cello by the time she was in her teens.<ref name="Chadbourne" /> She studied at the Chicago Music Conservatory and at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.<ref name="Chadbourne" />
On July 3, 1936, Hale was born Merrilyn Hecht in [[Freeport, Illinois]].<ref name="Chadbourne">{{cite web |last1=Chadbourne |first1=Eugene |title=Corky Hale |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/corky-hale-mn0000117089/biography |website=AllMusic |accessdate=1 October 2020 }}</ref> She had learned piano, harp, flute, and cello by the time she was in her teens.<ref name="Chadbourne" /> She studied at the Chicago Music Conservatory and at [[Interlochen Center for the Arts]] in Michigan.<ref name="Chadbourne" />
At age 16, she enrolled in [[Stephens College]], a school for young ladies, for her last year of high school. After graduation, she announced to her parents that she was moving to Hollywood to be a musician; her father sent her to nearby [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]. After a year of college, she dropped out, again intending to move to Hollywood. A compromise with her parents led to becoming at student at [[UCLA]].
At age 16, she enrolled in [[Stephens College]], a school for young ladies, for her last year of high school. After graduation, she announced to her parents that she was moving to Hollywood to be a musician; her father sent her to nearby [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]. After a year of college, she dropped out, again intending to move to Hollywood. A compromise with her parents led to becoming at student at [[UCLA]].

She is Jewish. In a 1997 interview with SFGATE, she describes herself as a "Jewish princess who had a wonderful childhood".


== Career ==
== Career ==
During the 1950s, she was a studio musician in Hollywood, playing [[harp]] on albums by [[Chet Baker]], [[June Christy]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]] [[Anita O'Day]], and Frank Sinatra.<ref name="Myers">{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Marc |title=Corky Hale: The Swinging Harp |url=https://www.jazzwax.com/2012/05/corky-hale-the-swinging-harp.html |website=www.jazzwax.com |accessdate=1 October 2020 |date=24 May 2012}}</ref> She worked as a vocalist with [[Freddy Martin]] at the [[Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)|Coconut Grove]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="Myers" /> [[Jerry Gray (arranger)|Jerry Gray]] invited her to perform with his band at Las Vegas, where she played piano for [[Billie Holiday]] and accompanied her on tour.<ref name="Myers" /> As a solo act, she recorded the album ''Corky Hale Plays George Gershwin and Vernon Duke'' with [[Buddy Collette]], [[Howard Roberts]], and [[Chico Hamilton]].<ref name="Myers" /> In the 1960s she accompanied [[Tony Bennett]] on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''.<ref name="Myers" /> In 1970, Hale married [[Mike Stoller]] of the Leiber-Stoller songwriting team.
During the 1950s, she was a studio musician in Hollywood, playing [[harp]] on albums by [[Chet Baker]], [[June Christy]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]] [[Anita O'Day]], and Frank Sinatra.<ref name="Myers">{{cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Marc |title=Corky Hale: The Swinging Harp |url=https://www.jazzwax.com/2012/05/corky-hale-the-swinging-harp.html |website=www.jazzwax.com |accessdate=1 October 2020 |date=24 May 2012}}</ref> She worked as a vocalist with [[Freddy Martin]] at the [[Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)|Coconut Grove]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="Myers" /> [[Jerry Gray (arranger)|Jerry Gray]] invited her to perform with his band at Las Vegas, where she played piano for [[Billie Holiday]] and accompanied her on tour.<ref name="Myers" /> As a solo act, she recorded the album ''Corky Hale Plays George Gershwin and Vernon Duke'' with [[Buddy Collette]], [[Howard Roberts]], and [[Chico Hamilton]].<ref name="Myers" /> On October 12, 1968, she accompanied [[Tony Bennett]] on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' and sang a song by herself.<ref name="Myers" /> In 1970, Hale married [[Mike Stoller]] of the Leiber-Stoller songwriting team.


She has worked with [[Liberace]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Elkie Brooks]], [[Tony Bennett]], [[Billie Holiday]], [[Harry James]], [[Peggy Lee]], [[James Brown]], [[Spike Jones]], [[George Michael]] and [[Björk]]. Hale has also produced plays, including ''Give 'Em Hell, Harry'', starring [[Jason Alexander]] and ''Lullaby of Broadway'', a profile of the lyricist [[Al Dubin]]. She has appeared at Vibrato, Catalina Bar & Grill, The White House, and the Kennedy Center.
She has worked with [[Liberace]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Elkie Brooks]], [[Tony Bennett]], [[Billie Holiday]], [[Harry James]], [[Peggy Lee]], [[James Brown]], [[Spike Jones]], [[George Michael]] and [[Björk]]. Hale has also produced plays, including ''Give 'Em Hell, Harry'', starring [[Jason Alexander]] and ''Lullaby of Broadway'', a profile of the lyricist [[Al Dubin]]. She has appeared at Vibrato, Catalina Bar & Grill, The White House, and the Kennedy Center.


At the University of Wisconsin, Hale was one of the few white students to join the [[NAACP]]. She was a birth control teacher at [[Planned Parenthood]] in New York and is on the National Advisory Board of [[NARAL]] and on the board of WRRAP. She is an American Film Institute associate and is the founder of [[Angel Harvest]], an organization which redistributes unused food from restaurants, hotels, and events to hungry and needy people in Los Angeles.
At the University of Wisconsin, Hale was one of the few white students to join the [[NAACP]]. She was a birth control teacher at [[Planned Parenthood]] in New York and is on the National Advisory Board of [[NARAL]] and on the board of WRRAP. She is an [[American Film Institute]] associate and is the founder of Angel Harvest, an organization which redistributes unused food from restaurants, hotels, and events to hungry and needy people in Los Angeles.


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{expand section|date=March 2016}}
===As leader===
===As leader===
* ''Corky Hale Plays George Gershwin & Vernon Duke '' (GNP Crescendo, 1975)
* ''Modern Harp Vol. 17'' (GNP, 1956)
* ''Harp Beat'' (Stash, 1985)
* ''Harp Beat'' (Stash, 1985)
* ''Harp! the Herald Angels Swing'' (LaserLight, 1995)
* ''Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas'' (LML Music, 1999)


===As guest===
===As guest===
* [[Chet Baker]], ''Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
* [[Tony Bennett]], ''Tony Makes It Happen!'' (Columbia, 1967)
* [[Bjork]], ''Debut'' (One Little Indian, 1993)
* Bjork, ''Surrounded'' (One Little Indian, 2006)
* [[Elkie Brooks]], ''Live and Learn'' (A&M, 1979)
* Elkie Brooks, ''Two Days Away'' (A&M, 1977)
* [[Artie Butler]], ''Have You Met Miss Jones?'' (A&M/CTI, 1968)
* [[Judy Collins]], ''Judith'' (Elektra, 1975)
* [[Dino & Sembello]], ''Dino & Sembello'' (A&M, 1974)
* [[Ella Fitzgerald]], ''Sings the Cole Porter Song Book'' (Verve, 1956)
* Ella Fitzgerald, ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book'' (Verve, 1956)
* [[Roberta Flack]], ''Chapter Two'' (Atlantic, 1970)
* Roberta Flack, ''Quiet Fire'' (Atlantic, 1971)
* [[Dean Friedman]], ''Dean Friedman'' (Lifesong, 1977)
* [[Herbie Harper]], ''Herbie Harper'' (Bethlehem, 1955)
* [[Harry James]], ''The Bands of Renown'' (Renown, 1993)
* [[Steve Kuhn]], Gary McFarland, ''The October Suite'' (Impulse!, 1967)
* [[Ronny Lang]]/Ray Sims/Dave Pell/Don Fagerquist, ''The Les Brown All Stars'' (Capitol, 1955)
* [[Peggy Lee]], ''Mirrors'' (A&M, 1975)
* [[Jon Lucien]], ''Rashida'' (RCA, 1995)
* [[Melissa Manchester]], ''Home to Myself'' (Bell, 1973)
* [[Herbie Mann]], ''Turtle Bay'' (Atlantic, 1973)
* [[Wade Marcus]], ''A New Era'' (Cotillion, 1971)
* [[Les McCann]], ''[[Invitation to Openness]]'' (Atlantic, 1972)
* [[Les McCann]], ''[[Invitation to Openness]]'' (Atlantic, 1972)
* [[Murray McEachern]], ''Music for Sleepwalkers Only'' (Key, 1956)
⚫
* [[Nina Simone]], ''[[Here Comes the Sun (Nina Simone album)|Here Comes the Sun]]'' (RCA, 1971)
* [[Anita O'Day]], ''Anita'' (Verve, 1956)
* Anita O'Day, ''In a Mellow Tone'' (DRG, 1989)
⚫
* [[Nina Simone]], ''[[Here Comes the Sun (Nina Simone album)|Here Comes the Sun]]'' (RCA Victor, 1971)
* [[Lyn Stanley]], ''The Moonlight Sessions'' (A.T. Music, 2017)
* [[Stealers Wheel]], ''Ferguslie Park'' (A&M, 1973)
* [[Kitty White]], ''A Moment of Love'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956)


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hale, Corky}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hale, Corky}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
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[[Category:Jazz musicians from Illinois]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Illinois]]
[[Category:American cabaret performers]]
[[Category:American cabaret performers]]
[[Category:American female jazz musicians]]
[[Category:American women jazz musicians]]
[[Category:American harpists]]
[[Category:American women harpists]]
[[Category:American jazz harpists]]
[[Category:American jazz harpists]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:American theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:Women theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:American women activists]]
[[Category:American flautists]]
[[Category:American women flautists]]
[[Category:American jazz pianists]]
[[Category:American women jazz pianists]]

Latest revision as of 23:17, 8 November 2024

Corky Hale (born July 3, 1936) is an American jazz harpist, pianist, flutist, and vocalist. She has been a theater producer, political activist, restaurateur, and the owner of the Corky Hale women's clothing store in Los Angeles, California.

Early life and education

[edit]

On July 3, 1936, Hale was born Merrilyn Hecht in Freeport, Illinois.[1] She had learned piano, harp, flute, and cello by the time she was in her teens.[1] She studied at the Chicago Music Conservatory and at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.[1]

At age 16, she enrolled in Stephens College, a school for young ladies, for her last year of high school. After graduation, she announced to her parents that she was moving to Hollywood to be a musician; her father sent her to nearby University of Wisconsin–Madison. After a year of college, she dropped out, again intending to move to Hollywood. A compromise with her parents led to becoming at student at UCLA.

She is Jewish. In a 1997 interview with SFGATE, she describes herself as a "Jewish princess who had a wonderful childhood".

Career

[edit]

During the 1950s, she was a studio musician in Hollywood, playing harp on albums by Chet Baker, June Christy, Ella Fitzgerald Anita O'Day, and Frank Sinatra.[2] She worked as a vocalist with Freddy Martin at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles.[2] Jerry Gray invited her to perform with his band at Las Vegas, where she played piano for Billie Holiday and accompanied her on tour.[2] As a solo act, she recorded the album Corky Hale Plays George Gershwin and Vernon Duke with Buddy Collette, Howard Roberts, and Chico Hamilton.[2] On October 12, 1968, she accompanied Tony Bennett on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and sang a song by herself.[2] In 1970, Hale married Mike Stoller of the Leiber-Stoller songwriting team.

She has worked with Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elkie Brooks, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Harry James, Peggy Lee, James Brown, Spike Jones, George Michael and Björk. Hale has also produced plays, including Give 'Em Hell, Harry, starring Jason Alexander and Lullaby of Broadway, a profile of the lyricist Al Dubin. She has appeared at Vibrato, Catalina Bar & Grill, The White House, and the Kennedy Center.

At the University of Wisconsin, Hale was one of the few white students to join the NAACP. She was a birth control teacher at Planned Parenthood in New York and is on the National Advisory Board of NARAL and on the board of WRRAP. She is an American Film Institute associate and is the founder of Angel Harvest, an organization which redistributes unused food from restaurants, hotels, and events to hungry and needy people in Los Angeles.

Discography

[edit]

As leader

[edit]
  • Modern Harp Vol. 17 (GNP, 1956)
  • Harp Beat (Stash, 1985)
  • Harp! the Herald Angels Swing (LaserLight, 1995)
  • Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas (LML Music, 1999)

As guest

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Chadbourne, Eugene. "Corky Hale". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Myers, Marc (24 May 2012). "Corky Hale: The Swinging Harp". www.jazzwax.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
[edit]
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