Alberta Hunter (1895-1984) was a singer with one of the longest, and most unconventional, careers in music. By the time she was in her 30s, she’d played Broadway, toured countless European cabarets, and sold thousands of records. Then, at the age of 62, she took a 20-year-long break before staging a massively successful comeback in her 80s.
Alberta Hunter (1895-1984) was a singer with one of the longest, and most unconventional, careers in music. By the time she was in her 30s, she’d played Broadway, toured countless European cabarets, and sold thousands of records. Then, at the age of 62, she took a 20-year-long break before staging a massively successful comeback in her 80s.
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Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
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Hello! I’m Allison Russell. I’m a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, poet, and activist. I’ve been inspired by artists like Nina Simone and Edith Piaf who turned their faces into the blade of storm and roared back dignity and hope.
This month, I’m your guest host on Womanica.
Today, we’re talking about a singer with one of the longest, and most unconventional, careers in music. By the time she was in her 30s, she’d played Broadway, toured countless European cabarets, and sold thousands of records. Then, at the age of 62, she took a 20-year-long break before staging a massively successful comeback in her 80s. Please welcome Alberta Hunter.
Alberta was born on April 1st, 1895 in Memphis, Tennessee. She was nicknamed “Pig” growing up, a name Alberta attributes to being very messy when she was younger. Her father, Charles, was a Pullman sleeping car porter, but died before she met him. Alberta and her mother, Laura, a chambermaid, moved around often to try and make ends meet.
When Alberta was in elementary school, she set out on her own to Chicago. Stories vary on just how she got there. But as Alberta once told it, a teacher with an extra train ticket to Chicago invited her along on the condition Alberta ask for her mother’s permission. Instead, Alberta told her mother she was staying over at a friend's house, and made the break for Chicago.
The city spelled a new beginning for young Alberta. When she arrived, she got a job peeling potatoes for six dollars a week and a place to stay. She would send money back home to her mother. One night, she entered a small club, and began singing. Though she was thrown out that night, she soon got a job singing for a weekly stipend.
From there, Alberta began a singing career that took her to the best clubs Chicago had to offer. She sang at the Panama Cafe with Florence Mills, and the Dreamland Cafe with King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, featuring Louis Armstrong. She became well-known for her talent and energy while performing. Alberta was small, but her voice was explosive. She would add improvised rhythm to her songs by slapping her thighs, clapping, and snapping along. Her repertoire included blues, gospel, folk, and show tunes, as well as languages ranging from French and Italian to Yiddish, German, and Danish.
In 1921, Alberta wrote and recorded her first songs. Among them was “Down Hearted Blues,” which fellow Womannican Bessie Smith would record a year later on her album to great success.
In 1919, Alberta married a man named Willard Saxby Townsend, but they separated within months. Multiple sources speculate that Alberta was a lesbian and kept her sexuality a secret so as not to negatively affect her career.
Alberta moved to New York in 1923 and quickly made it to the theater. She took part in an all-Black musical called “How Come” at the Apollo Theater. She spent the next few years between cities before making the move to Europe. She starred in “Show Boat” in London for two years before moving through Paris, Denmark, Turkey, and Egypt with various acts.
Alberta returned to the US in the 30s, where she performed for US troops through the United Service Organization.
In 1954, Alberta’s mother died. Her death deeply affected Alberta. She decided to give up singing entirely and enrolled in a nursing course at the YWCA. For the next 20 years, she worked as a scrub nurse on Roosevelt Island in New York. She only stopped in 1977 because the hospital thought she had reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. In fact, Alberta had registered herself as 12 years younger than her real age– when she retired, she was actually 82.
That summer, Alberta sang at a friend’s party. By chance, an agent attending the party heard her song and connected her to the owner of a Greenwich Village club called the Cookery. With that, Alberta’s singing career roared back to life.
She performed at the club for a six-week program that was so successful, it was extended indefinitely and she was given a recording contract with Columbia Records. She recorded four celebrated albums and was commissioned by movie director Robert Altman to record the soundtrack for his film, “Remember My Name.” At 83 years old, she performed at the White House for President Jimmy Carter. At the time, Alberta told The New York Times, “I’m the happiest woman in this world.”
By the 1980s, Alberta was battling ill health. She died at her home on Roosevelt Island on October 17, 1984, at 89 years old.
All month long, we’re highlighting Black musicians. Womanica is a Wonder Media Network production. Special thanks to co-creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan, who invited me to guest host this month.
Talk to you Monday!