Biography
Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was a pioneering American jazz and blues singer and songwriter whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, to a working-class family, Hunter endured a difficult childhood marked by poverty and the absence of her father. Determined to escape her circumstances, she moved to Chicago as a young teenager, where she initially worked menial jobs before breaking into the city's vibrant club scene. By 1911, she was performing at Dago Frank's, a South Side bordello, and soon after, her talent was recognized by influential musicians such as pianist Tony Jackson, who became an early mentor.
Hunter's career flourished as she became a fixture at Chicago's Dreamland Café, performing alongside King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and befriending artists like Lil Hardin and Louis Armstrong. In the early 1920s, she moved to New York, began recording with Fletcher Henderson, and wrote the classic "Down Hearted Blues," which became Bessie Smith's breakout hit. Hunter was among the first Black singers to record with a white band and achieved international fame, touring Europe extensively and starring in musical revues. After retiring from music in the 1950s to work as a nurse, she made a remarkable comeback in 1977, captivating new audiences with her powerful voice and storytelling until her death in 1984. Her legacy endures as a trailblazer for women and Black artists in jazz and blues, and as a songwriter whose work helped define the classic blues era.
Fun Facts
- After retiring from music in the 1950s, Hunter trained as a nurse and worked in a New York hospital for over 20 years, hiding her musical past from her colleagues.
- She made a celebrated comeback at age 82, performing at The Cookery in Greenwich Village, which led to renewed recording and touring.
- Hunter was one of the first Black singers to record with a white band, the Original Memphis Five, in 1923.
- She entertained troops for the USO during World War II, traveling throughout Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.
Associated Acts
- Red Onion Jazz Babies (1924–1925)
- Alberta Hunter and Elkins‐Payne Jubilee Quartette - eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Tony Jackson - Early mentor who helped expand her repertoire and develop her style in Chicago. (Live performances at Elite Café and other Chicago venues) [circa 1914]
Key Collaborators
- Fletcher Henderson - Recorded as a singer with his Novelty Orchestra and on Paramount sessions. (Recordings for Black Swan and Paramount labels) [early 1920s]
- Louis Armstrong - Performed together at Dreamland Café and on the Red Onion Jazz Babies sessions. (Red Onion Jazz Babies recordings (1924)) [1920s]
- Lil Hardin - Close friend and fellow Memphis native; performed together in Chicago. (Dreamland Café performances) [1910s]
- Eubie Blake - Recorded and performed together during her early career. (Various recordings and performances) [1920s–1930s]
Artists Influenced
- Bessie Smith - Hunter wrote 'Down Hearted Blues,' which became Smith's first hit and signature song. ('Down Hearted Blues') [1923]
- Contemporary jazz and blues vocalists - Hunter's pioneering career and style paved the way for later generations of female and Black artists. (General influence on vocal technique and repertoire) [1920s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Blues | 1978 | Album |
| Songs We Taught Your Mother | 1992-01-01 | Album |
| Remember My Name (Original Soundtrack Recording) | 1978 | Album |
| Essential Classics, Vol. 692: Alberta Hunter | 2025-09-12 | Album |
| Echoes of the Cotton Club - Jazz Age Lady | 2025-07-25 | Album |
| The Twenties | 2011-09-30 | Album |
| Alberta Hunter Vol. 4 (1927-c. 1946) | 1996 | Album |
| Alberta Hunter Vol. 2 (1923-1924) | 1996 | Album |
| The Glory of...Alberta Hunter | 1982-02-02 | Album |
| Downhearted Blues | 2011-08-30 | Album |
| The London Sessions - 1934 | 1991-01-01 | Album |
| Downhearted Blues | 2017-02-23 | Album |
| I'm Hard To Satisfy | 2009-04-04 | Album |
| Alberta Hunter Vol. 3 (1924-1927) | 1996 | Album |
| You Can't Have It All | 2024-04-19 | Album |
Top Tracks
- The Darktown Strutters' Ball (Amtrak Blues)
- Sweet Georgia Brown (Amtrak Blues)
- My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More (Amtrak Blues)
- I'm Having A Good Time (Amtrak Blues)
- Amtrak Blues (Amtrak Blues)
- I Got Myself A Workin' Man (Songs We Taught Your Mother)
- Always (Amtrak Blues)
- I've Got A Mind To Ramble (Amtrak Blues)
- Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (Amtrak Blues)
- A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Amtrak Blues)
External Links
Tags: #acoustic-blues, #blues, #piano-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
Alberta Hunter has been played 6 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 2025 | 11:18 | MY HANDY MAN | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Nov 12, 2025 | 10:39 | EVERYBODY MESS AROUNDfrom ALBERTA HUNTER VOLUME 3 | Traditional Jazzw/ Tom Saunders | |
| Nov 8, 2025 | 11:38 | You Can't Tell The Difference Affrom Those Dirty Blues, Vol. 1 | New Orleans Music Show - Saturday | |
| Oct 20, 2025 | 21:58 | chirpin' the blues | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 09:08 | SOONfrom THE LEGENDARY ALBERTA HUNTER LONDON SESSIONS | Traditional Jazzw/ Tom Saunders | |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 19:42 | workin' man | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. |