Hal Singer: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Singer was born in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]'s African-American district, Greenwood. |
Singer was born in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]'s African-American district, Greenwood. He grew up in Greenwood where he studied violin as a child but, as a teenager, switched to clarinet and then tenor saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. From the late 1930s he began playing in local bands, including [[Ernie Fields]]', before joining [[Jay McShann]]'s orchestra in 1943 and then moving to New York. After working in other bands, he joined [[Oran "Hot Lips" Page]]'s band in 1947 and began working as a [[session musician]] with [[King Records (USA)|King Records]]. |
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In early 1948 he left Page, formed his own small group, and was signed to [[Mercury Records]] where he cut his first single "Fine As Wine" with a B side "Rock Around the Clock" (not the same title made famous by [[Bill Haley]]), co-written with [[Sam Theard]].<ref name=otto>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_l_1NkpGBrEC&pg=PA118&dq=%22You+rascal+you%22+sam&hl=es&sa=X&ei=XTiIUajAJsHD7Abb3IGYAw&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22You%20rascal%20you%22%20sam&f=false Fuchs, Otto (2011) ''Bill Haley: Father of Rock 'n' Roll'', p. 118. Wagner Verlag] at Google Books. Retrieved May 7, 2013.</ref> For the [[Savoy Records|Savoy label]] of [[Newark, New Jersey]] he recorded the instrumental "Corn Bread", which made No. 1 on the [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] charts in September 1948, and gave Singer a new popularity and nickname. His follow-up the following year, "Beef Stew", was a much smaller hit. |
In early 1948, he left Page, formed his own small group, and was signed to [[Mercury Records]] where he cut his first single "Fine As Wine" with a B side "Rock Around the Clock" (not the same title made famous by [[Bill Haley]]), co-written with [[Sam Theard]].<ref name=otto>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_l_1NkpGBrEC&pg=PA118&dq=%22You+rascal+you%22+sam&hl=es&sa=X&ei=XTiIUajAJsHD7Abb3IGYAw&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22You%20rascal%20you%22%20sam&f=false Fuchs, Otto (2011) ''Bill Haley: Father of Rock 'n' Roll'', p. 118. Wagner Verlag] at Google Books. Retrieved May 7, 2013.</ref> For the [[Savoy Records|Savoy label]] of [[Newark, New Jersey]], he recorded the instrumental "Corn Bread", which made No. 1 on the [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] charts in September 1948, and gave Singer a new popularity and nickname. His follow-up the following year, "Beef Stew", was a much smaller hit. |
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In the early and mid-1950s he recorded with [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], toured with R&B artists such as [[The Orioles]] and [[Charles Brown (musician)|Charles Brown]], and increasingly worked as a session musician. In 1958 he began recording with [[Prestige Records]] as a jazz soloist and performing at the [[Metropole Cafe]] in New York with leading jazz musicians such as [[Roy Eldridge]] and [[Coleman Hawkins]]. |
In the early and mid-1950s, he recorded with [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], toured with R&B artists such as [[The Orioles]] and [[Charles Brown (musician)|Charles Brown]], and increasingly worked as a session musician. In 1958, he began recording with [[Prestige Records]] as a jazz soloist and performing at the [[Metropole Cafe]] in New York with leading jazz musicians such as [[Roy Eldridge]] and [[Coleman Hawkins]]. |
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In 1965, after touring Europe with [[Earl "Fatha" Hines]]' band, Singer stayed in France to settle near Paris. He continued to record and also toured extensively around Europe and Africa, performing with various bands including [[Charlie Watts]]' and the [[Duke Ellington Orchestra]]. His 1969 album, ''Paris Soul Food'', featuring Singer on saxophone and singing; Robin Hemingway, vocals, arrangements and album production; and [[Manu Dibango]], saxophone, organ and arrangements won a French Record Academy award for best international LP in 1969. |
In 1965, after touring Europe with [[Earl "Fatha" Hines]]' band, Singer stayed in France to settle near Paris. He continued to record and also toured extensively around Europe and Africa, performing with various bands including [[Charlie Watts]]' and the [[Duke Ellington Orchestra]]. His 1969 album, ''Paris Soul Food'', featuring Singer on saxophone and singing; Robin Hemingway, vocals, arrangements and album production; and [[Manu Dibango]], saxophone, organ and arrangements won a French Record Academy award for best international LP in 1969. |
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In 1974 he went on a State Department tour of Africa with [[Horace Parlan]].<ref name="feather">[https://books.google.com/books?id=ma1BpsFE1WoC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Jazz+encyclop+AND+%22Victor+Gaskin%22&source=bl&ots=Ttqg8XTFbt&sig=PqgjYwIJ7xFG6BHERQzQM4TU7pI&hl=es&ei=yN2JSpWRBZuZjAfBkZmiCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=snippet&q=hal%20singer&f=false Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'' Oxford University Press US, 2007] {{ISBN|0-19-532000-X}}, 9780195320008 at Google Books</ref> |
In 1974, he went on a State Department tour of Africa with [[Horace Parlan]].<ref name="feather">[https://books.google.com/books?id=ma1BpsFE1WoC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Jazz+encyclop+AND+%22Victor+Gaskin%22&source=bl&ots=Ttqg8XTFbt&sig=PqgjYwIJ7xFG6BHERQzQM4TU7pI&hl=es&ei=yN2JSpWRBZuZjAfBkZmiCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=snippet&q=hal%20singer&f=false Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'' Oxford University Press US, 2007] {{ISBN|0-19-532000-X}}, 9780195320008 at Google Books</ref> |
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Singer appears on the 1981 live recording ''[[Rocket 88 (album)|Rocket 88]]'' with the UK-based [[boogie-woogie]] band [[Rocket 88 (band)|Rocket 88]]. Also in the summer of 1981 Singer visited London, where he recorded two albums for John Stedman's record label, JSP. The first album, ''Swing on it'' (JSP 1028), was recorded with British musicians, including [[Jim Mullen]], [[Peter King (saxophonist)|Peter King]], [[Mike Carr (musician)|Mike Carr]] and Harold Smith, while the second, recorded a day later with the same group, also featured [[Jimmy Witherspoon]] ("[[Big Blues (Jimmy Witherspoon album)|Big Blues]]", JSP 1032). |
Singer appears on the 1981 live recording ''[[Rocket 88 (album)|Rocket 88]]'' with the UK-based [[boogie-woogie]] band [[Rocket 88 (band)|Rocket 88]]. Also in the summer of 1981 Singer visited London, where he recorded two albums for John Stedman's record label, JSP. The first album, ''Swing on it'' (JSP 1028), was recorded with British musicians, including [[Jim Mullen]], [[Peter King (saxophonist)|Peter King]], [[Mike Carr (musician)|Mike Carr]] and Harold Smith, while the second, recorded a day later with the same group, also featured [[Jimmy Witherspoon]] ("[[Big Blues (Jimmy Witherspoon album)|Big Blues]]", JSP 1032). |
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He appeared as an actor in the award-winning 1990 feature film ''[[Taxi Blues]]'' and, in 1992, was awarded the prestigious title of "[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier des Arts]]" by the French government. |
He appeared as an actor in the award-winning 1990 feature film ''[[Taxi Blues]]'' and, in 1992, was awarded the prestigious title of "[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier des Arts]]" by the French government. |
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A documentary film, ''Hal Singer, Keep the Music Going'', was made by Haitian-American director Guetty Felin in 1999. It was made in collaboration with the [[National Center of Cinematography and the moving image|CNC]] in France and the French cable music network Muzzik. The documentary wove into the narrative Singer's personal super |
A documentary film, ''Hal Singer, Keep the Music Going'', was made by Haitian-American director Guetty Felin in 1999. It was made in collaboration with the [[National Center of Cinematography and the moving image|CNC]] in France and the French cable music network Muzzik. The documentary wove into the narrative Singer's personal super-8 movies, archival images of the jazz era, and footage of Singer's home in Paris, in concert and teaching jazz to the younger generation of musicians in France. Spoken word poet [[Jessica Care Moore]] is featured in a duet with Singer. This documentary is the only film on Singer's career to date. |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
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Revision as of 15:51, 23 October 2018
Hal Singer | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Harold Joseph Singer |
| Also known as | Hal "Cornbread" Singer |
| Born | October 8, 1919 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, rhythm and blues |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Saxophone |
| Years active | Late 1930s–1990 |
Harold Joseph Singer (born October 8, 1919),[1] also known as Hal "Cornbread" Singer, is an American R&B and jazz bandleader and saxophonist.
Biography
Singer was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma's African-American district, Greenwood. He grew up in Greenwood where he studied violin as a child but, as a teenager, switched to clarinet and then tenor saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. From the late 1930s he began playing in local bands, including Ernie Fields', before joining Jay McShann's orchestra in 1943 and then moving to New York. After working in other bands, he joined Oran "Hot Lips" Page's band in 1947 and began working as a session musician with King Records.
In early 1948, he left Page, formed his own small group, and was signed to Mercury Records where he cut his first single "Fine As Wine" with a B side "Rock Around the Clock" (not the same title made famous by Bill Haley), co-written with Sam Theard.[2] For the Savoy label of Newark, New Jersey, he recorded the instrumental "Corn Bread", which made No. 1 on the R&B charts in September 1948, and gave Singer a new popularity and nickname. His follow-up the following year, "Beef Stew", was a much smaller hit.
In the early and mid-1950s, he recorded with Mercury, toured with R&B artists such as The Orioles and Charles Brown, and increasingly worked as a session musician. In 1958, he began recording with Prestige Records as a jazz soloist and performing at the Metropole Cafe in New York with leading jazz musicians such as Roy Eldridge and Coleman Hawkins.
In 1965, after touring Europe with Earl "Fatha" Hines' band, Singer stayed in France to settle near Paris. He continued to record and also toured extensively around Europe and Africa, performing with various bands including Charlie Watts' and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. His 1969 album, Paris Soul Food, featuring Singer on saxophone and singing; Robin Hemingway, vocals, arrangements and album production; and Manu Dibango, saxophone, organ and arrangements won a French Record Academy award for best international LP in 1969.
In 1974, he went on a State Department tour of Africa with Horace Parlan.[3]
Singer appears on the 1981 live recording Rocket 88 with the UK-based boogie-woogie band Rocket 88. Also in the summer of 1981 Singer visited London, where he recorded two albums for John Stedman's record label, JSP. The first album, Swing on it (JSP 1028), was recorded with British musicians, including Jim Mullen, Peter King, Mike Carr and Harold Smith, while the second, recorded a day later with the same group, also featured Jimmy Witherspoon ("Big Blues", JSP 1032).
Singer shares artist billing on a recording made in 1989, along with Al Copley, "Royal Blue", released on the Black Top label in 1990.
He appeared as an actor in the award-winning 1990 feature film Taxi Blues and, in 1992, was awarded the prestigious title of "Chevalier des Arts" by the French government.
A documentary film, Hal Singer, Keep the Music Going, was made by Haitian-American director Guetty Felin in 1999. It was made in collaboration with the CNC in France and the French cable music network Muzzik. The documentary wove into the narrative Singer's personal super-8 movies, archival images of the jazz era, and footage of Singer's home in Paris, in concert and teaching jazz to the younger generation of musicians in France. Spoken word poet Jessica Care Moore is featured in a duet with Singer. This documentary is the only film on Singer's career to date.
Discography
- 1948: "Fine As Wine" & "Rock Around the Clock" (Mercury)
- 1948: "Corn Bread" - as leader
- 1949: "Beef Stew" - as leader
- 1959: Blue Stompin' – Hal Singer – Charlie Shavers Quintet (Prestige)
- 1960: Blues by Lonnie Johnson – Lonnie Johnson Quintet(Bluesville)
- 1963: Blues in the Night – as leader (Fidelio)
- 1968: A funky day in Paris – Johnny Letman (Black and Blue)
- 1968: Milt and Hal - Milt Buckner (Black and Blue)
- 1969: Paris Soul Food – as leader (Polydor)
- 1971: Blues and News – as leader (Futura)
- 1973: Grey's Mood - Al Grey (Black and Blue)
- 1975: Soul of Africa – as leader (Chant du Monde)
- 1977: Le Grand Voyage / The Long Trip – as leader (Pastoral)
- 1981: Rocket 88 – Rocket 88
- 1981: Swing on it – as leader (JSP)
- 1990: Royal Blue – as co-lead with Al Copley – (Black Top)
- 2010: Challenge – as co-lead with David Murray – (Marge)
References
- ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. pp. 358–359. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ Fuchs, Otto (2011) Bill Haley: Father of Rock 'n' Roll, p. 118. Wagner Verlag at Google Books. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Oxford University Press US, 2007 ISBN 0-19-532000-X, 9780195320008 at Google Books
