Hal Singer

Harold Joseph Singer (October 8, 1919 – August 18, 2020), also known as Hal "Cornbread" Singer, was an American R&B and jazz bandleader and saxophonist.

Harold Joseph Singer (October 8, 1919 – August 18, 2020), also known as Hal "Cornbread" Singer, was an American R&B and jazz bandleader and saxophonist. == Early life== Harold Joseph Singer was born in Greenwood, an African-American district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to father Charles and mother Anna Mae. His father was employed by an oil-drilling tools manufacturer and his mother was a caterer. He was a survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, during which his family's home was burnt down. Singer and his mother were helped to travel to Kansas City during the riot by his mother's white employer. There they waited out the violence with family until they could return. The official records of Singer's birth were destroyed during the violence. Singer studied violin as a child but later switched to reed instruments. He ultimately settled on the tenor saxophone influenced by hearing Ben Webster and Lester Young. On the advice of his father to pursue a "proper" career, Singer attended the Hampton Institute and graduated in 1939 with a degree in agriculture. While studying, Singer regularly took time off to tour with local bands. ==Discography== 1948: "Fine As Wine" & "Rock Around the Clock" (Mercury) 1948: "Corn Bread" – as leader 1949: "Beef Stew" – as leader 1959: Blue Stompin – Hal Singer and the Charlie Shavers Quintet (Prestige) 1960: Blues by Lonnie Johnson – Lonnie Johnson Quintet (Bluesville) 1963: Blues in the Night – as leader (Fidelio) 1968: A Funky Day in Paris – Johnny Letman (Black & Blue) 1968: Milt and Hal – Milt Buckner (Black & Blue) 1969: Paris Soul Food – as leader (Polydor) 1969: Kidney Stew is Fine − Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (Delmark) 1971: Blues and News – as leader (Marge) 1973¹ T-Bone Walker “I Want a Little Girl” Delmark Records (recorded 1968, released 1973) 1973: Grey's Mood – Al Grey (Black & Blue) 1975: Soul of Africa – as leader (Le Chant du Monde) 1977: Le Grand Voyage / The Long Trip – as leader (Pastoral) 1981: Rocket 88 – Rocket 88 1981: Swing on it – as leader (JSP) 1990: Royal Blue – as co-lead with Al Copley – (Black Top) 2010: Challenge – as co-lead with David Murray – (Marge) ==References== ==External links== More information Details on early career

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