Mal Hallett
Encyclopedia
Mal Hallett was an American jazz
violinist and bandleader
.
Hallett was a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music. He played in France
during World War I
as a member of Al Moore
's orchestra, and led his own band, primarily in New England
, for much of the 1930s. His ensemble featured a large number of sidemen who went on to become noted for their own achievements, including Gene Krupa
, Jack Teagarden
, Frankie Carle
, Jack Jenney
, Toots Mondello
, Irene Daye
, Clark Yocum, Floyd O'Brien
, Spud Murphy
, Boots Mussulli
, Brad Gowans
, Turk Murphy
, Teddy Grace
, and Don Fagerquist
.
Hallett was an older swing bandleader, and had trouble winning over younger fans, to the detriment of his career. He also battled alcoholism
for much of his life, and an arm injury incurred while drunk prevented him from playing violin late in life. He died in 1952.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
violinist and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Hallett was a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music. He played in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a member of Al Moore
Al Moore
Albert James Moore was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Giants.-External links:...
's orchestra, and led his own band, primarily in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, for much of the 1930s. His ensemble featured a large number of sidemen who went on to become noted for their own achievements, including Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
, Frankie Carle
Frankie Carle
Frankie Carle – , born Francis Nunzio Carlone, was a American pianist and bandleader. As a very popular bandleader in the 1940s and 1950s, Carle was nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keyboard"."Sunrise Serenade," however, was Carle's best-known composition, rising to No...
, Jack Jenney
Jack Jenney
Truman Eliot "Jack" Jenney was a jazz trombonist who might be best known for instrumental versions of the song Stardust. Born in Mason City, Iowa, Jenney played with his father's band from age 11, his father was a musician and music teacher, but his first professional work began with Austin Wylie...
, Toots Mondello
Toots Mondello
Toots Mondello was an American swing jazz alto saxophonist.Mondello played with Mal Hallett from 1927-1933 and also with Irving Aaronson's Commanders, Joe Haymes, and Buddy Rogers...
, Irene Daye
Irene Daye
Irene Daye was an American jazz singer.Irene Daye began her career at age 17 by singing in Jan Murphy's big band while still in high school in 1935, continuing with Murphy through 1937...
, Clark Yocum, Floyd O'Brien
Floyd O'Brien
Floyd O'Brien was an American jazz trombonist.O'Brien first played in Chicago in the 1920s with the Austin High School Gang; later in the decade he played with Earl Fuller, Floyd Town, Charles Pierce, Thelma Terry, and Husk O'Hare. Between 1930-31 he worked in a pit band at a theater in Des...
, Spud Murphy
Spud Murphy
Lyle Stephanovic, better known as Spud Murphy was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and arranger....
, Boots Mussulli
Boots Mussulli
Boots Mussulli was an American jazz saxophonist, based chiefly out of Boston....
, Brad Gowans
Brad Gowans
Arthur Bradford "Brad" Gowans was an American jazz trombonist and reedist....
, Turk Murphy
Turk Murphy
Melvin Edward Alton “Turk” Murphy was renowned as a trombonist who played traditional and dixieland jazz in San Francisco....
, Teddy Grace
Teddy Grace
Teddy Grace was an American female jazz singer.-Biography:Grace first sang professionally in 1931. She sang on radio in the American South and worked with the bands of Al Katz , Tommy Christian , and Mal Hallett...
, and Don Fagerquist
Don Fagerquist
Donald Fagerquist was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States...
.
Hallett was an older swing bandleader, and had trouble winning over younger fans, to the detriment of his career. He also battled alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
for much of his life, and an arm injury incurred while drunk prevented him from playing violin late in life. He died in 1952.
Further reading
- Obituary, New York Times, November 22, 1952 (subscription access required)