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Alberta HunterAmerican blues singer
Date of Birth: 01.04.1895
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Alberta Hunter
Alberta Hunter, an American blues singer, was born on April 1, 1895, in Memphis, Tennessee. At the age of twelve, she ran away from her hometown to Chicago with dreams of becoming a singer. Initially, Hunter faced many difficulties and struggled financially, but she gradually managed to improve her situation.
Early Career
In 1911, she performed at "Dago Frank's," one of the infamous clubs in Sauzside. The regular patrons of this well-known brothel were gangsters and pimps. Alberta sang for this tough audience and received not only generous tips but also occasional praise. However, in 1913, the club closed due to a murder that occurred there.
After that, Alberta Hunter began to move from one club to another. She eventually found work at the "Elite Cafe #1," followed by the "Panama Cafe," "The De Luxe Cafe," and the city's leading cabaret, "Hugh Hoskin's Saloon." Gradually, her talent and reputation grew, and she became an inspiration for young singers.
Personal Life
Alberta managed to save enough money to bring her mother to Chicago, whom she took care of until her old age. While Alberta was married for a brief period, she never fulfilled her marital duties, citing the inability to engage in sexual activities in the same house as her mother. The true reason behind her refusal was that Alberta Hunter was a lesbian.
When her husband discovered her sexual orientation, he left for the South, and she never saw him again. Soon after, Hunter met Lottie Taylor, the niece of Burt Williams, a popular African American performer. Alberta and Lottie became lovers.
Success and Later Career
In 1921, fearing the rising levels of gangsterism (one of her pianists was shot during a concert), Alberta Hunter moved to New York. There, she began working with Fletcher Henderson's orchestra and made her first recordings at the Black Swan recording studio.
Within a year, she signed a contract with the "Paramount" label, with which she recorded some of her best songs. Alberta also wrote her own songs, and one of them became the debut of Bessie Smith, the future "Empress of the Blues."
The peak of Alberta Hunter's popularity came during her performances at the "Dreamland Cafe," where King Oliver's "Creole Jazz Band" played. Hunter became friends with Lil Hardin, the pianist of the ensemble, who was also from Memphis. In 1923, Alberta became the first African American singer to perform with a "white" orchestra. She performed songs such as "If You Want To Keep Your Daddy Home," "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do," and "Bleeding Hearted Blues."
During the 1920s and 1930s, Alberta Hunter regularly performed in various New York clubs, accompanied by many famous jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet. She participated in various shows on Broadway and other theaters in New York. Hunter also performed in Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Russia.
During World War II, she performed in Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific as part of the United Service Organizations (USO) entertainment program. After the war, Hunter returned to America and continued singing until 1956. During this time, she dedicated most of her time to caring for her ill mother.
In 1954, Alberta Hunter completed nursing courses and worked at a hospital in New York. In the 1960s, she released several albums and made a comeback in 1977, returning to the stage. She continued to perform until the end of her life.
Legacy
Alberta Hunter passed away on October 17, 1984, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering African American blues singer and a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ artists in the music industry.
