Alex Hill
Alex Hill (April 22, 1906 – February 1937) was an American jazz pianist. Hill was a child prodigy on piano, which he learned from his mother. While studying at Shorter College he met Alphonse Trent, and began arranging material for him. He graduated in 1922 and played in various territory bands, including Terrence Holder's. From 1924 to 1926 he led his own ensemble; later in 1926 he played with Speed Webb, and in 1927 he spent time with Mutt Carey's Jeffersonians and Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders. Late in 1927 he relocated to Chicago, and held a job as an arranger for the Melrose Music Publishing Company, while simultaneously arranging for the Carroll Dickerson Orchestra. He played with Jimmy Wade in 1928, Jimmie Noone in 1929, and Sammy Stewart in 1930. In 1929, Hill plus the guitar players Dan Roberts and Alex Robinson, recorded for Paramount Records billed as the Hokum Boys. Later that year, Ikey Robinson recorded for OKeh Records, both with Jimmy Blythe and later with Hill. In addition, in the second half of 1929 this ensemble was joined by Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, issuing a small number of recordings billed as the Famous Hokum Boys. While on tour with Stewart he moved to New York City. There he arranged for Paul Whiteman, Benny Carter, Claude Hopkins, Andy Kirk, Ina Ray Hutton, the Mills Blue Rhythm Orchestra, and Duke Ellington. He also did charts for Fats Waller, Eddie Condon, and Willie Bryant. Additionally, he became staff arranger for the Mills Music Company. He and Fats Waller did a show together in New York called Hello 1931, and accompanied Adelaide Hall. He recorded his own composition Passing Time With Me with Art Gillham on Columbia Records on October 7, 1930. Hill again put together his own group in 1935, but after playing at the Savoy Ballroom, he disbanded the ensemble due to his tuberculosis. He moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas, and died in 1937 at the age of 30. Most of his recordings can be found on Alex Hill 1928-34, released on CD by Timeless Records in 1998. It includes recordings he made with Albert Wynn, Jimmy Wade, Jimmie Noone, Junie Cobb, Eddie Condon, and the Hokum Trio. in addition to 11 tunes he did as bandleader. |
Birth and Death Data: Born April 19, 1906 (Little Rock), Died February 1, 1937 (Little Rock)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1938
Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, songwriter, lyricist, tenor vocal, leader, arranger
Notes: Sometimes listed as Alexander Hill.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-48755 | 10-in. | 12/14/1928 | Rolling mill stomp | State Street Stompers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, piano | |
Victor | BVE-48756 | 10-in. | 12/14/1928 | Panama blues | State Street Stompers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano | |
Victor | BVE-48887 | 10-in. | 2/15/1929 | Beau-koo jack | Earl Hines Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BVE-50831 | 10-in. | 4/16/1929 | Quality shout | Paul Howard ; Quality Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BVE-57249 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | It's all gone now | Down Home Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | songwriter, vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Victor | BVE-57250 | 10-in. | 12/10/1929 | You do it | Down Home Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | instrumentalist, piano, songwriter | |
Victor | BVE-58942 | 10-in. | 7/26/1932 | I would do anything for you | Larry Murphy ; Williams' Cotton Club Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BVE-63135 | 10-in. | 9/12/1930 | (You were only) Passinig time with me | George Bias ; King Oliver Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-67799 | 10-in. | 1/16/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Chick Bullock ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BRC-68221 | 10-in. | 6/4/1931 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby | The Melody Four | Vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
Victor | BRC-68823 | 10-in. | 3/25/1931 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy 'bout me) | Walter Ashby ; Snooks Friedman Memphis Stompers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-77277 | 10-in. | 12/9/1933 | Low down rounders blues | Charlie McFadden | Male vocal solo, with piano | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-77285 | 10-in. | 12/9/1933 | Stormy weather blues, part 1 | Walter Davis ; Roosevelt Sykes | Male vocal solo, with piano | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BS-77286 | 10-in. | 12/9/1933 | Stormy weather blues, part 2 | Walter Davis ; Roosevelt Sykes | Male vocal solo, with piano | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-78063 | 10-in. | 10/2/1933 | Answer my heart | Chris Fletcher ; Hotel Lexington Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-81022 | 10-in. | 1/3/1934 | Dixie Lee | Sid Peltyn Orchestra [Dick Robertson Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BS-81088 | 10-in. | 1/22/1934 | 'Long about midnight | Cotton Club Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-81938 | 10-in. | 3/16/1934 | Armful o' sweetness | Leo Zollo and his Benjamin Franklin Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BS-81943 | 10-in. | 3/16/1934 | Delta bound | Sid Peltyn Orchestra [Al Mitchell Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BS-82528 | 10-in. | 5/16/1934 | Armful o' sweetness | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, composer | |
Victor | BVE-86449 | 10-in. | 12/14/1934 | Baby Brown | George Gray ; Sepia Serenaders | Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Victor | BS-87083 | 10-in. | 1/5/1935 | Baby brown | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2); Jazz/dance band (take 3) | composer | |
Victor | BS-89818 | 10-in. | 5/8/1935 | 'Long about midnight | Willie Bryant Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-101258 | 10-in. | 5/27/1936 | (I would do) Anything for you | Benny Goodman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-102400 | 10-in. | 8/1/1936 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy about me) | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-0234 | 10-in. | 8/21/1936 | I would do anything for you | Tempo King ; Kings of Tempo ; Queenie Ada Rubin | Jazz/dance band, with piano solo and male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-02605 | 10-in. | 10/15/1936 | You gonna look like a monkey when you get old | Robert Hill | Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and harmonica | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-010562 | 10-in. | 6/12/1937 | Our love was meant to be | Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-013346 | 10-in. | 9/7/1937 | Our love was meant to be | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-023405 | 10-in. | 5/18/1938 | Draggin' my heart around | Ruby Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | composer | |
Victor | BS-027940 | 10-in. | 10/19/1938 | When Hannah plays piano | Bob Ballin ; Rennie McEvoy | Male vocal duet | composer | |
Victor | BS-027976 | 10-in. | 10/24/1938 | I would do anything for you | Three's A Crowd | Clarinet, guitar, and piano | songwriter | |
Columbia | [W]150379 | 10-in. | 5/1/1930 | I'm havin' my fun | Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio | Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo | songwriter, leader, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | [W]150380 | 10-in. | 5/1/1930 | You've had your way | Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio | Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia | [W]150381 | 10-in. | 5/1/1930 | He wouldn't stop doing it | Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio | Instrumental trio, with male vocal duet | songwriter, leader, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | [W]150382 | 10-in. | 5/1/1930 | You're bound to look like a monkey when you get old | Alex Hill ; The Hokum Trio | Instrumental trio, with male vocal duet | songwriter, leader, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W150458 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | See if I'll care | Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano | songwriter | |
Columbia | W150613 | 10-in. | 6/25/1930 | Shout, sister, shout! | Lazy Levee Loungers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Columbia | [W]150734 | 10-in. | 8/26/1930 | (You were only) Passing time with me | Lloyd Keating and his Music | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W150865 | 10-in. | 10/7/1930 | Passing time with me | Art Gillham ; Alex Hill | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W150866 | 10-in. | 10/7/1930 | When they changed my name to a number | Art Gillham ; Alex Hill | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia | W150873 | 10-in. | 10/14/1930 | Passing time with me | Smith Ballew Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | W150927 | 10-in. | 10/31/1930 | You're getting old on your job | Tommy Jordan ; Clara Smith | Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano | composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia | W150928 | 10-in. | 10/31/1930 | What makes you act like that | Tommy Jordan ; Clara Smith | Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano | composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia | W150997 | 10-in. | 12/2/1930 | Keep a song in your soul | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Columbia | W151396 | 10-in. | 3/5/1931 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy 'bout me | Ted Lewis and his Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Columbia | W151417 | 10-in. | 3/13/1931 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy 'bout me) | Fats Waller | Male vocal solo, with piano | lyricist | |
Columbia | W151418 | 10-in. | 3/13/1931 | Draggin' my heart around | Fats Waller | Male vocal solo, with piano | composer, lyricist | |
Columbia | [W]151426 | 10-in. | 3/16/1931 | I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy 'bout me) | Selvin’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Columbia | W152199 | 10-in. | 5/24/1932 | (I would do) Anything for you | Claude Hopkins and his Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Columbia | W152467 | 10-in. | 8/7/1933 | Mister, will you serenade? | Williams' Jug Band | Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet | songwriter | |
Columbia | W152468 | 10-in. | 8/7/1933 | You ain't too old | Clarence Williams’ Jug Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
OKeh | W402169 | 10-in. | 12/5/1928 | Beau Koo Jack | Louis Armstrong ; Savoy Ballroom Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, arranger | |
OKeh | W403314 | 10-in. | 11/16/1929 | The duck's yas-yas-yas | Snitcher Roberts | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
OKeh | W403315 | 10-in. | 11/16/1929 | Heart is right blues | Snitcher Roberts | Male vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
OKeh | W403316 | 10-in. | 11/16/1929 | Low moanin' blues | Snitcher Roberts | Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
OKeh | W404034 | 10-in. | 5/22/1930 | He wouldn't stop doing it | Clarence Williams' Novelty Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
OKeh | W404035 | 10-in. | 5/22/1930 | You're bound to look like a monkey when you get old | Clarence Williams' Novelty Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
OKeh | W404294 | 10-in. | 8/13/1930 | Papa ain't no Santa Claus (Mama ain't no Christmas tree) | Butterbeans & Susie ; Eddie Heywood | Female-male vocal duet, with piano | composer | |
OKeh | W404383 | 10-in. | 7/20/1930 | Shout, sister, shout! | Clarence Williams’ Washboard Band | Jazz/dance quartet, with female vocal solo | songwriter | |
OKeh | W404523 | 10-in. | 10/31/1930 | You had too much | Violet Green ; Lonnie Johnson | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | composer, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist | |
OKeh | W404524 | 10-in. | 10/31/1930 | Don’t wear it out | Violet Green ; Lonnie Johnson | Female-male vocal duet, with guitar | instrumentalist, piano, composer, lyricist | |
OKeh | W404819 | 10-in. | 1/26/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Lanin’s Famous Players | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
OKeh | W404853 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
OKeh | W404854 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Shout, sister, shout | Memphis Hot Shots [Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio | songwriter | |
OKeh | W405180 | 10-in. | 3/29/1932 | Wouldn't stop doing it | Cora Garner | Female vocal solo, with piano | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E34651 | 10-in. | 9/29/1930 | (You were only) Passing time with me | Tom Clines and his Music | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | E35161 | 10-in. | 1/14/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Grace Johnston | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E35169 | 10-in. | 1/16/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Red Nichols Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E36111 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Red Nichols Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E36437 | 10-in. | 4/1/1931 | I’m crazy ‘bout my baby (And my baby’s crazy ‘bout me) | Casa Loma Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Brunswick | E36441 | 10-in. | 4/3/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Bill Robinson | Tap dancing, with orchestra | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E36454 | 10-in. | 4/10/1931 | I’m crazy ‘bout my baby (And my baby’s crazy ‘bout me) | Connie’s Inn Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Brunswick | E36461 | 10-in. | 4/13/1931 | I’m crazy ‘bout my baby (And my baby’s crazy ‘bout me) | Grace Johnston | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E36501 | 10-in. | 3/23/1931 | I’m crazy ‘bout my baby (And my baby’s crazy ‘bout me) | Casa Loma Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
Brunswick | E36655 | 10-in. | 4/23/1931 | Shout, Sister, shout | Boswell Sisters | Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Brunswick | E36833 | 10-in. | 5/27/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Bill Robinson | Tap dancing, with orchestra | songwriter | |
Brunswick | C2423 | 10-in. | 10/9/1928 | Crying my blues away | Gut Bucket Five ; Albert Wynn | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | C2428 | 10-in. | 10/10/1928 | Mississippi wobble | Jimmy Wade Dixielanders | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | C2609 | 10-in. | 11/28/1928 | Beau-Koo Jack | Walter Barnes ; Royal Creolians | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | C2627 | 10-in. | 12/4/1928 | Tellin’ my troubles | Octavia Dick | Female vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Brunswick | C2628 | 10-in. | 12/4/1928 | Please let me have it | Octavia Dick | Female vocal solo, with male vocal solo and piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Brunswick | C2704 | 10-in. | 12/24/1928 | Beau-Koo Jack | Walter Barnes ; Royal Creolians | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | C2921 | 10-in. | 2/7/1929 | Don’t cry, honey | Junie C. Cobb ; Grains of Corn | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
Brunswick | C3210 | 10-in. | 3/30/1929 | Stompin’ ‘em down | Alex Hill | Piano solo, with traps | instrumentalist, piano, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | C3211 | 10-in. | 3/30/1929 | Tack head blues | Alex Hill | Piano solo, with traps | instrumentalist, piano, composer, lyricist | |
Brunswick | C4105 | 10-in. | 8/21/1929 | Beau-Koo Jack | Omer Simeon | Clarinet solo, with piano and traps | composer | |
Brunswick | C4330 | 10-in. | 9/11/1929 | Beau-koo Jack | Omer Simeon | Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano | composer | |
Brunswick | C4331 | 10-in. | 9/11/1929 | Beau-Koo Jack | Omer Simeon | Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano | composer | |
Brunswick | C5035 | 10-in. | 12/20/1929 | Dyin’ with the blues | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | C5036 | 10-in. | 12/20/1929 | Toogaloo shout | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | C5273 | 10-in. | 2/8/1930 | St. James’ Infirmary | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
Brunswick | C5274 | 10-in. | 2/8/1930 | St. James’ Infirmary | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
Brunswick | C5275 | 10-in. | 2/8/1930 | South bound | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | C5276 | 10-in. | 2/8/1930 | Dyin’ with the blues | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | C5277 | 10-in. | 2/8/1930 | Dyin’ with the blues | Alex Hill Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | TCL1485 | 10-in. | 5/20/1931 | Crazy 'bout my baby | Rex Stewart | Instrumental solo | songwriter | |
Gennett | 15278 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | Hokum blues | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15279 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | Somebody's been usin' that thing | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15280 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | Caught him doing it | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15281 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | Better cut that out | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15282 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | Put your mind on it | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15283 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | It's all worn out | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15284 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | You can't get enough of that stuff | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano | |
Gennett | 15285 | 10-in. | 6/27/1929 | I was afraid of that | The Hokum Boys | Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal, instrumentalist, piano |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hill, Alex," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104820.
Hill, Alex. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104820.
"Hill, Alex." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Hill, Alex, 1906-1937 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85034822
Wikidata: Alex Hill - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2641352
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/62968235
MusicBrainz: Alex Hill - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/88180511-06b4-44ed-8af6-264d08b32e39
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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