Gerri Hall (born August 2, 1934)''Encyclopedia of Louisiana Musicians-Jazz, Blues, Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Gospel'', Gene Tomko,

Louisiana State University Press The Louisiana State University Press (LSU Press) is a university press at Louisiana State University. Founded in 1935, it publishes works of scholarship as well as general interest books. LSU Press is a member of the Association of University Pres ...

, March 2020, is an American R&B singer known for her works with Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns.

Life and career

Gerri Hall was born Erdine Bouise in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, Louisiana. An African, Spanish, and American Indian descent, Hall was a fan of comedian Jerry Lewis from whom she named herself after.''Huey "Piano" Smith And The Rocking Pneumonia Blues'', Author: John Wirt,

, March 2014, p. 60, Her surname Hall comes from her ex-husband, who was the brother of Rosemary Hall Domino, the wife of

Fats Domino Antoine Caliste Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New Orl ...

. Hall was working as a waitress at the club Dew Drop Inn where she met Huey Smith and

Bobby Marchan Bobby Marchan (born Oscar James Gibson, April 30, 1930 – December 5, 1999) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, recording artist, bandleader, MC, and female impersonator. He was the key singer in the early lineup of Huey "Pian ...

. They invited her to join the Clowns in 1957. From then on, Hall served as one of the key members of the golden days of the Clowns singing on songs including "Don't You Just Know It". She also recorded with Huey Smith under the duo name of "Huey and Jerry". Apart from her work with Smith, Hall took part in

Earl King Earl Silas Johnson IV (February 7, 1934 – April 17, 2003),
known as Earl King, was an American singer, guita ...

’s

Imperial Records Imperial Records is an American record company and label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd. The label was reactivated in 2006 by EMI, which owned the label and back catalogue at the time. Imperial is owned by Universal Music Group. Early years to ...

session doing backing vocals on two tracks "Don't You Lose It" and "Don't Cry My Friend" in 1962. These songs were released under its subsidiary label Post as a single. Hall also did some live dates with

Benny Spellman Benny Spellman (December 11, 1931 – June 3, 2011) was an American R&B singer, he was best known for the 1962 single " Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)" and its B-side "Fortune Teller", both written by Allen Toussaint (credited as Naomi Neville ...

and

Smiley Lewis Overton Amos Lemons (July 5, 1913 – October 7, 1966), known as Smiley Lewis, was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues singer and guitarist. The music journalist Tony Russell wrote that "Lewis was the unluckiest man in New Orleans. He hit on ...

in New Orleans. As a solo artist, she released some singles in the 1950s to 1960s, and in 1966, she appeared on the TV show '' The !!!! Beat'', hosted by Hoss Allen. The single "I Cried a Tear" from the RAI label she released in 1966 was leased to

Atco Records ATCO Records is an American record label founded in 1955. It is owned by Warner Music Group and operates as an imprint of Atlantic Records. After several decades of dormancy and infrequent activity under alternating Warner Music labels, the com ...

for a wider distribution. Later, she gave up her solo career and joined Ray Charles' Raelettes. She performed as a member of the Clowns at the

Tipitina's Tipitina's is a music venue located at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans, Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. History Local music enthusiasts opened the venue on January 14, 1977.Ponderosa Stomp The Ponderosa Stomp is an annual American roots music festival dedicated to "recognizing the architects of rock-n-roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop and soul music." It was founded in New Orleans in 2002 and produced by the non-profit Mystic K ...

in New Orleans in 2010 and 2011.

Discography

Singles

Compilation albums

References

External links

Ponderosa Stomp: Gerri Hall
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Gerri 1934 births Living people 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers American women singers American rhythm and blues singers Contemporary blues musicians American blues singers Blues musicians from Louisiana Singers from Louisiana 21st-century African-American women Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans Ace Records (United States) artists Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns members The Raelettes members