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

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104820

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