Minor Hall

Minor Hall (March 2, 1897 – October 16, 1959), better known as Ram Hall, was an American jazz drummer active on the New Orleans jazz scene. He was the younger brother of Tubby Hall.

Minor Hall was born in Sellers, Louisiana. He studied at New Orleans University until 1914, then began playing with Kid Ory in the middle of the decade. He played in various New Orleans ensembles, including the Superior Band, then moved to Chicago in 1918. He took his brother's spot in Lawrence Duhe's band briefly before serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. By the time he returned, King Oliver was leading Duhe's band, which Hall rejoined in 1921. In 1926 he played with Jimmie Noone, and then moved to California for an extended run with Mutt Carey's Jeffersonians (1927–32).

He played in the Winslow Allen Band in the 1930s, but took a hiatus from music for part of the decade, and served briefly in the Army again in 1942. In 1945 he rejoined Ory in his Creole Jazz Band and became one of his most longstanding members, remaining with Ory's ensemble until 1956, when he retired on account of poor health. Hall never led his own recording date, though he recorded extensively with Ory and also did some recording with Louis Armstrong in the 1940s. He died in Sawtelle, California, aged 61.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 2, 1897 (Louisiana), Died October 16, 1959

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= 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 D6VB-2192 10-in. 10/17/1946 Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans Louis Armstrong ; Dixieland Seven Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-2193 10-in. 10/17/1946 Where the blues were born in New Orleans Louis Armstrong ; Dixieland Seven Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-2194 10-in. 10/17/1946 Mahogany Hall stomp Louis Armstrong ; Dixieland Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80037 10/7/1949 Who's sorry now Castle Jazz Band ; Kid Ory and his Creole Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83366 10/7/1952 Eh! Là-bas Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83367 10/7/1952 Savoy blues Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83368 10/7/1952 Tiger rag Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83369 10/7/1952 Twelfth Street rag Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3754 10-in. 3/21/1945 High society Kid Ory and his Creole Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3755 10-in. 3/21/1945 Muskrat ramble Kid Ory and his Creole Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3756 10-in. 3/21/1945 The girls go crazy about the way I walk Kid Ory and his Creole Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3757 10-in. 3/21/1945 Blanche Touquatoux Kid Ory and his Creole Band instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hall, Minor," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319678.

Hall, Minor. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319678.

"Hall, Minor." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319678

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