Ernest Hill

Ernest "Bass" Hill (March 14, 1900, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – September 16, 1964, New York City) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Hill played from 1924 with Claude Hopkins, and remained with him on a tour of Europe with Josephine Baker the following year. Hill and Hopkins collaborated numerous times over the next few years and again in the 1940s. In 1928 he played with Leroy Smith & His Orchestra and Bill Brown & His Brownies, and worked in the Eugene Kennedy Orchestra the next year. In the 1930s he played with Willie Bryant, Bobby Martin's Cotton Club Serenaders, Benny Carter, Chick Webb, and Rex Stewart.

Hill was in Europe in the late 1930s when he fled to Switzerland at the outbreak of World War II. There he played with Mac Strittmacher before returning to the United States in 1940. In that year, he recorded with Eddie South and Hot Lips Page. Following this he played with Maurice Hubbard, Hopkins again, Zutty Singleton, Louis Armstrong (1943), Cliff Jackson, Herbie Cowens, and Minto Kato. In 1949 he returned to Europe, where he played in Switzerland and Italy with Bill Coleman and then in Germany with Big Boy Goudie until 1952.

Upon his return to the US he worked in New York City with Happy Caldwell, Henry Morrison, and Wesley Fagan. He worked in the musicians' union in the last decade of his life.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 14, 1900 (Pittsburgh), Died September 16, 1964 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= 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 BS-99972 10-in. 4/9/1936 It is true what they say about Dixie? Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-99973 10-in. 4/9/1936 All my life Taft Jordan ; Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-99974 10-in. 4/9/1936 The right somebody to love Jack Butler ; Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-99975 10-in. 4/9/1936 The glory of love Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-99976 10-in. 4/9/1936 Ride, red, ride Willie Bryant ; Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-99977 10-in. 4/9/1936 Moonrise on the lowlands Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-058149 10-in. 12/10/1940 Thirsty mama blues Hot Lips Page Trio ; Hot Lips Page Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-058150 10-in. 12/10/1940 Just another woman Hot Lips Page Trio ; Hot Lips Page Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-058151 10-in. 12/10/1940 My fightin' gal Hot Lips Page Trio ; Hot Lips Page Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-058152 10-in. 12/10/1940 Evil man's blues Teddy Bunn ; Hot Lips Page Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-058153 10-in. 12/10/1940 Do it, if you wanna Hot Lips Page Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hill, Ernest," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112736.

Hill, Ernest. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112736.

"Hill, Ernest." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112736

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