Al Hibbler

Al Hibbler ( born August 16, 1915 in Tyro, Mississippi as Albert George Hibbler, † April 24, 2001 in Chicago ) was an American pop and rhythm and blues singer. He sang in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Life and work

Al Hibbler was blind from birth. He went to Little Rock (Arkansas ) to school, where he also sang in the school choir. In Memphis (Tennessee ), he won an amateur competition and worked with local bands; In 1937 he founded his own formation in San Antonio ( Texas). Later questioned by his early role models, he called Russ Colombo and Bing Crosby; He also mentioned the ultra high tenors Pha Terrell and Arthur "The Street Singer" Tracy.

In 1942 he became a member of the band of Jay McShann, next year he moved to Duke Ellington, in whose orchestra he replaced Herb Jeffries. He worked for eight years with Ellington; afterwards ( 1951) he continued his career as a soloist on, inter alia, with recordings for Miracle Records. His best-known titles in the Ellington band were " I Is not Got Nothing But the Blues" ( 1944) and "I Like the Sunshine " (1947). He took this time to LP recordings with Count Basie, Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges ( " Believ It, Beloved " on Clef, 1952) in part.

His style is often performed as a rhythm and blues; But Hibbler is more of a traditional pop singer. After Ellington 's biographer, JL Collier, it can certainly not be classified as a real jazz singer. He cites Leonard Feathers assessment that much has been achieved by Hibblers former popularity by use of grotesque distortions, of Duke Ellington as " tonal pantomime " means, but rather entertainment music as jazz or pop singing was " Hibbler snarls, growls and grunts as whether he would have to burp, and his pronunciation sounds as mysterious as London Cockney ( ... in Ellington Orchestra) he seemed most like out of control and crazy, and he found its parallel in the earthy, soulful snort Tricky Sam Nanton and the bluesy ballad style of Johnny Hodges. " During most of the time he worked for Ellington, he sang near the alto range, which Ellington allowed his voice to the alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges and the alto Kay Davis to face ( " Is not Got Nothin 'But the Blues, " 1945). In the 50s his voice was hovering in a baritone, though he could descend into a guttural bass position, as in "After the Lights."

In 1954, Hibbler a Verve album with Elligton songs out; the following year he moved to Decca. His solo career on the pop market began in 1955 with his biggest hit " Unchained Melody ". He had success with the tracks "Hey ", " 11th Hour Melody " and "Never Turn Back " in 1956. "After the Lights Go Low " (1956) was his last chart hit.

In the late 1950s and the 1960s was Hibbler activist in the civil rights movement; In 1963, he was therefore arrested in Alabama. These activities affected his singing career because larger label would not receive him; eventually supported him Frank Sinatra and gave him a contract on his record label, Reprise Records. Nevertheless Hibbler played a early 70 only a few records, but came up in the 1990s to live concerts. In 1972 he contributed four tracks to Roland Kirk's Atlantic album A Meeting of the Times.

Auswahldiskographie

• Al Hibbler: After the Lights Go Down Slow (Atlantic )
• Al Hibbler with Harry Carney 's All Stars. : Rare Dates without the Duke 1944/49 ( Raretone )
• Duke Ellington: Carnegie Hall Concert, December 1944 ( Prestige )
• Duke Ellington: Carnegie Hall Concert, January 1946 ( Prestige )
• Duke Ellington: Carnegie Hall Concert, December, 1947 ( Prestige )
• Jay McShann: 1941-1943 ( Classics )

Secondary literature

• Bielefeld Catalog Jazz 2001
• Richard Cook & Brian Morton: The Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD, 6th Edition, London, Penguin, 2002 ISBN 0-14-017949-6.
• James Lincoln Collier: Duke Ellington. Ullsteinhaus, Berlin 1998
• Will Friedwald: Swinging Voices of America - A compendium of great voices. Hannibal, St. Andrew - Woerdern, 1992. ISBN 3-85445-075-3