Tubby Hall
Encyclopedia
Alfred "Tubby" Hall was a jazz
drummer
.
Hall was born in Sellers, Louisiana; his family moved to New Orleans
in his childhood. His younger brother Minor "Ram" Hall
also became a professional drummer. He played in many marching bands in New Orleans, including with Buddie Petit
.
In March 1917 Tubby Hall moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he played with Sugar Johnny Smith. After two years in the United States Army
, returned to playing in Chicago mostly with New Orleans bands, joining Carroll Dickerson
's Orchestra (recording with it in 1927) and later with the groups of King Oliver, Jimmie Noone
, Tiny Parham
, Johnny Dodds
. Noted swing and big band drummer Gene Krupa
said that Hall and Zutty Singleton "..were great! They knew every trick and just how to phrase the parts of the choruses behind the horns, how to lead a man in, what to do at the turn-arounds, when to use sticks and when to use brushes, when to go for the rims or the woodblocks, what cymbals are for."
For some years he played with Louis Armstrong
, and is seen in Armstrong's movie
s of the early 1930s, including the live action and Betty Boop
cartoon "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you(1932)" and "A Rhapsody in Black and Blue(1932)" made by Paramount
. Only Armstrong and Hall got closeups in the two films, and both get their faces transposed with those of racially stereotyped "jungle natives" in the cartoon. Hall morphs from a jazz drummer to a cannibal stirring a cooking pot with two wooden sticks.
His drumming style was forceful and sober, generally maintaining constant tempo on the snare
. Jazz critic Hugues Panassié
considered him one of the three greatest jazz drummers of his generation, along with Zutty Singleton and Warren "Baby" Dodds.
Tubby Hall died in Chicago.
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...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
.
Hall was born in Sellers, Louisiana; his family moved to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in his childhood. His younger brother Minor "Ram" Hall
Minor Hall
Ram "Minor" Hall was an American jazz drummer active on the New Orleans jazz scene. He was the younger brother of Tubby Hall....
also became a professional drummer. He played in many marching bands in New Orleans, including with Buddie Petit
Buddie Petit
Buddie Petit or Buddy Petit was a highly regarded early jazz cornetist.His early life is somewhat mysterious, with dates of his birth given in various sources ranging from 1887 to 1897; if the later date is correct he was evidently a prodigy, regarded as one of the best in New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
In March 1917 Tubby Hall moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he played with Sugar Johnny Smith. After two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, returned to playing in Chicago mostly with New Orleans bands, joining Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson was a Chicago and New York-based dixieland jazz violinist and bandleader, probably better known for his extensive work with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines or his more brief work touring with King Oliver....
's Orchestra (recording with it in 1927) and later with the groups of King Oliver, Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone was an American jazz clarinetist.- Background :...
, Tiny Parham
Tiny Parham
Hartzell Strathdene "Tiny" Parham was a Canadian-born American jazz bandleader and pianist of African-American descent....
, Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds was an American New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin and Louis Armstrong. Dodds was also the older brother of drummer Warren "Baby"...
. Noted swing and big band drummer 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:...
said that Hall and Zutty Singleton "..were great! They knew every trick and just how to phrase the parts of the choruses behind the horns, how to lead a man in, what to do at the turn-arounds, when to use sticks and when to use brushes, when to go for the rims or the woodblocks, what cymbals are for."
For some years he played with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, and is seen in Armstrong's movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s of the early 1930s, including the live action and Betty Boop
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
cartoon "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you(1932)" and "A Rhapsody in Black and Blue(1932)" made by Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. Only Armstrong and Hall got closeups in the two films, and both get their faces transposed with those of racially stereotyped "jungle natives" in the cartoon. Hall morphs from a jazz drummer to a cannibal stirring a cooking pot with two wooden sticks.
His drumming style was forceful and sober, generally maintaining constant tempo on the snare
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
. Jazz critic Hugues Panassié
Hugues Panassié
Hugues Panassié was a French jazz critic and producer. His most famous works were Hot Jazz: The Guide to Swing Music and The Real Jazz, published in 1936 and 1942, respectively....
considered him one of the three greatest jazz drummers of his generation, along with Zutty Singleton and Warren "Baby" Dodds.
Tubby Hall died in Chicago.
External links
- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-274196436333108344#"A Rhapsody in Black and Blue" (1932) at Google video.
- http://www.archive.org/details/bb_ill_be_glad_when_youre_dead"Betty Boop: "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you" (1932) at Internet Archive.