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 (Results 51-75 of 105 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-75 of 105 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hill, Alex," accessed May 6, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104820.

Hill, Alex. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 6, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104820.

"Hill, Alex." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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