Adelaide Louise Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 20, 1901. Adelaide and her sister Evelyn attended the Pratt Institute, where her father taught piano. Hall began her stage career in 1921 on Broadway in the chorus line of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake’s musical Shuffle Along. She went on to appear in a number of similar black musical shows, including Runnin’ Wild on Broadway in 1923, in which she sang James P. Johnson’s hit song “Old-Fashioned Love.”
In 1924, Hall married the British sailor Bertram Errol Hicks. Hicks opened a club in Harlem called “The Big Apple” and he became Hall’s official business manager. In 1925, Hall toured Europe with the Chocolate Kiddies revue, which included songs written by Duke Ellington. In 1926, Hall also appeared in My Magnolia, Tan Town Topics, and Desires of 1927.
As early as July 1927, newspapers were reporting that Hall had invented a new style of singing, which she termed “squagel.” In New York in October 1927, Hall recorded her wordless vocals on “Creole Love Call” and “The Blues I Love To Sing” with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. “Creole Love Call” became a worldwide hit.
In 1928, Hall starred with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson on Broadway in Blackbirds of 1928. The show became one of the most successful all-black shows ever staged on Broadway and made Hall and Bojangles into household names.
In 1931, Hall embarked on a world concert tour. It was during this tour that Hall discovered and employed the blind pianist Art Tatum, whom she brought back to New York with her at the end of the tour.
In 1938, Hall went to the United Kingdom to star in a West End play. She was warmly received by the British public, becoming one of the most popular singers and entertainers of the time. Hall lived in London from 1938 until her death, continuing to appear on radio and TV and to perform and make recordings into her 90s.
Adelaide Hall died on November 7, 1993, aged 92, in London. During his eulogy, TV presenter and broadcaster Michael Parkinson remarked: “Adelaide lived to be ninety-two and never grew old.” – adapted from Wikipedia
