Alberta Hunter’s Early Life
Alberta Hunter was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She left home for Chicago at eleven or twelve years old with the aspiration of becoming a singer. Success did not come quickly. Her first job was at a boardinghouse. However, by 1915, she began a career singing in nightclubs.
Hunter’s Singing Career
The 1920s was a decade of success for Hunter. In 1921, she moved to New York and recorded with Black Swan Records. In 1923, Bessie Smith recorded “Downhearted Blues,” which was authored by Hunter. The song was a huge hit.
In addition to singing, Hunter began performing in the theatre. In 1926, she received the leading role in the Broadway show How Come?. A year later, she left for Europe and began performing in nightclubs and theatre productions, such as in the London production of Showboat with Paul Robeson.
For a while, Hunter traveled back and forth between the United States and Europe, but eventually decided to stay in Europe indefinitely. At the time, the depression was in full swing and racism was more prevalent in the U.S. Hunter returned to the United States in the late 1930s, and shortly thereafter, she toured with the USO during World War II. After the war, she resumed her performances in Europe, Canada, and in the U.S.
Throughout her career, Hunter had the opportunity to work with performers such as Fats Waller, Lil Hardin Armstrong, King Oliver, and the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. Her repertoire included blues, jazz, and pop. With such a flexible repertoire, her career lasted for more than four decades. While her recordings were good, it was her live performances that were great. She was considered an exceptionally gifted live singer, which contributed immensely to her success.
Hunter’s Retirement
In the late 1950s, Hunter retired from singing. After attending nursing school, she became a nurse in New York City. She recorded one album in 1961 before retiring from nursing in 1977. Between 1977 and 1984, she recorded four albums for Columbia. She performed up until her death in 1984.
